Contemporary Artist Beatriz Ledesma Creates Art Inspired By Emotional, Spiritual, And Social Issues

Artist Beatriz Ledesma is a painter, curator, and psychotherapist whose work is deeply connected to the plight of the poor, vulnerable, and undeserved. She takes a closer look at the emotional impact of displacement in marginalized populations.

Artist Beatriz E. Ledesma is a painter, curator, and psychotherapist based in Chicago, Illinois. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she is deeply connected to the plight of the poor, vulnerable, and undeserved. Her work is about issues of emotional, spiritual and social construct, taking a closer look at the emotional impact of displacement in marginalized populations and to examine the symbolic language of indigenous peoples. Her interests involve the practical applications of psychoanalysis and art for the purpose of healing and empowerment, focusing on the use of art-making in the clinical treatment of adults. She attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC).

“Faithful to my Latin American roots my work takes the viewer into the world of magic realism and color. I am disengaged from conceptual constraints, instead I allow intuitive knowledge to creatively guide me when painting or when thinking about a painting series to embark on. Painting becomes a mystical experience woven with material reality, myth, and the free flow of my imagination. I intend to challenge the viewer into a contemplative dialogue with the artwork, hoping that it may evoke a feeling, an emotion, a memory.”

With her work, the artist attempts to take a closer look at memory, at the emotional impact of displacement in marginalized populations and to examine the symbolic language of indigenous peoples. She finds herself studying tribal symbols from both, Northern and Southern tribes from Argentina. Using symbols, along with realistic and primitive tribal imagery placed in a dreamlike composition with heavily saturated colors, Ledesma seeks to recreate the spiritual world of native populations and the emotional reality of marginalized peoples through her paintings. Ledesma’s art challenges the social issue of displacement on a human level of community within society through initiating a visual conversation using the power of art to convey the vibrant colors, imagery and symbols of Latin American culture.

Ledesma's art holds a powerful aura of tribal energy and represents a larger spiritual practice at play. She works purely within the depths of her intuitive creative energy and her native Latin American roots, connecting with the Earth, and respecting the planet as well as all the inhabitants of this beautiful world. Stay tuned for information about Beatriz Ledesma’s upcoming solo exhibition this October 2019 in Chicago, IL. To learn more about this fascinating artist, for sales information, commissions or general inquires, email beatriz@ledesmastudio.com and visit https://www.beatrizledesmastudio.com/

South Florida "dog artist" Skip Hartzell‘s passion and love of dogs is embodied in his paintings, works on paper and four-legged sculptures

Artist Skip Hartzell's inspiration comes in the form of a morning walk, accompanied by a furry friend. The canine artwork he creates of man’s best friend is figments of his artistic imagination and creative vision. Skip Hartzell creates directly from his emotions and instincts, his work is inspired by dogs of all shapes, sizes and varieties. The artist creates large paintings and works on paper that capture the essence of “dog”. He is best known for his unique sculptures recognized immediately by their distinct form and style that only Hartzell can produce.

Experience Skip Hartzell’s Dogs at CityPlace in West Palm Beach where the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County presents “The Satellite” pop-up exhibition on view through the Spring of 2019. The exhibit is called 'Reimagine' and features several selected Palm Beach artists being showcased at the WPB Collective space at CityPlace. Space includes a visitor information centre, an art and design lecture series and special events and programming from local cultural organizations, located at 701 S. Rosemary Avenue, Suite 116 in West Palm Beach, Florida (just off the main plaza).

Happy Skip Hartzell Collectors

Skip Hartzell is a longtime supporter of no-kill animal rescues and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue, no kill shelters. For sales, commissions, general inquiries or future show information, email: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com / visit www.skiphartzell.com

'Toy Four', Oil on Canvas, 60 x 48 Inches

‘U Owe Me 5’ Doma Solo Exhibition at Fabien Castanier Gallery

Experience ‘U Owe Me 5’ Doma Solo Exhibition at Fabien Castanier Gallery in their Little River space. The exhibition is on view through April 13, 2019.

Doma, an artist collective currently run by Orilo Blandini and Julián Manzelli, started back in 1998 in Buenos Aires and is recognized as one of the pioneers of the Argentine “Street Art” movement. Their production is characterized by a critical and biting view on reality’s absurdity. With the use of humor, their concepts focus on where contradiction and paradox reside. Artist Statement: Power is built through a long and dark chain of favors. Welcome to the sublimation of contradiction: a phenomenology of the disaster of human evolution; the sinking world made by “Progress” and “Corruption”. www.castaniergallery.com

Grand Opening of the George Daniell Museum in South Beach’s New Wilzig Museum Building

Grand Opening Of The George Daniell Museum In South Beach’s New Wilzig Museum Building During Miami Beach Pride Week

George Daniell was a gay American photographer and artist known for his portraits of Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Lena Horne and Georgia O’Keeffe. The new George Daniell Museum features photographs, paintings and aquarelles from the artist’s life.

George Daniell, ‘Audrey Hepburn, 1955’

The new George Daniell Museum is proud to announce its grand opening in South Beach during Miami Beach Pride Week. The celebration will take place on Wednesday, April 3rd starting at 6pm. The opening will feature music by DJs Andres Aguirre and Mayra Jaimes, an open bar, and access to the museum galleries. The event is free to attend.

George Daniell, ‘Couple on Motorcycle Rome, 1955’

George Daniell was a gay American photographer and artist. He worked for Time and Life magazines, and was known for his portraits of Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren, Lena Horne, and Georgia O’Keeffe. The new George Daniell Museum features photographs, paintings and aquarelles from throughout the artist’s life, reborn into the public consciousness thanks to the German organization Zentraldepot.

George Daniell, ‘Sophia Loren, Rome’

George Daniell was an accomplished photographer and portraitist. He received degrees in Photography and Painting from Yale University. Growing up in Yonkers, New York, he began photographing local life. During the Great Depression, he photographed fishermen in areas off of the Hudson River and on Grand Manan Island. After college he began doing freelance work for Life, Time, and Esquire magazines. In the 1950s he traveled to Italy and worked on the sets of Cinecetti Studios. He saw both poles of life in Italy at that period; sometimes he was busy photographing glamorous movie stars like Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren, while at others he was exploring the post-war damage Italy had experienced.

George Daniell, ‘Big Brothers Shoulders in Rome’

Daniell’s work has been shown in numerous exhibitions over the past seven decades. His work is in the permanent collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, and the National Gallery in Washington, D.C. Georgia O’Keeffe, John Marin, and more recently Bruce Weber, have all made public their admiration for Daniell’s work.

George Daniell, ‘Georgia O’Keeffe, 1952’

The George Daniell Museum will open in the new Wilzig Museum Building located in South Beach, which currently houses the WEAM, the only museum in the world dedicated exclusively to fine erotic art founded by the late Naomi Wilzig in 2005. The opening of the George Daniell Museum is the first step in the development of the space as a future multi-museum building.

Photograogh from George Daniell's Italian Men series

The grand opening will take place as part of Miami Beach Pride Week in partnership with WEAM. The celebration will take place on Wednesday, April 3rd starting at 6pm. The opening will feature music by DJs Andres Aguirre and Mayra Jaimes, an open bar, and access to the museum galleries. The event is free to attend. In addition, there will be a George Daniell pop-up shop that will offer first access to limited edition photo portfolios by the artist. The Wilzig Museum Building, WEAM, and the George Daniell Museum and pop-up shop are all located at 1205 Washington Avenue in Miami Beach, visit the website for more information www.georgedaniell.org

South Florida "Dog Artist" Skip Hartzell Creates Unique Canine-Inspired Fine Art, View Works on Exhibit at CityPlace in WPB

'It's A Very Fine Day', Oil on Canvas, 48 x 60 Inches.

Experience Skip Hartzell’s Dogs at CityPlace in West Palm Beach where the Cultural Council of Palm Beach County presents “The Satellite” pop-up exhibition on view through the Spring of 2019. The exhibit is called 'Reimagine' and features several selected Palm Beach artists being showcased at the WPB Collective space at CityPlace. Space includes a visitor information centre, an art and design lecture series and special events and programming from local cultural organizations, located at 701 S. Rosemary Avenue, Suite 116 in West Palm Beach, Florida (just off the main plaza).

‘Swimmer #2’, Flashe on Canvas, 72 x 72 Inches.

South Florida "dog artist" Skip Hartzell‘s passion and love of dogs in unlimited configurations are joined in his paintings, works on paper and four-legged sculptures. His inspiration comes in the form of a morning walk, accompanied by a furry friend. The artwork he creates of man’s best friend is figments of his artistic imagination and creative vision. Hartzell creates directly from his emotions and instincts, his work is inspired by dogs of all shapes, sizes and varieties. The artist creates large paintings and works on paper that capture the essence of “dog”. He is best known for his unique sculptures recognized immediately by their distinct form and style that only Hartzell can produce.

'Partners', Resin and Graphite, 25 x 37 x 21 Inches.

Skip Hartzell is a longtime supporter of no-kill animal rescues and donates proceeds from the sale of his artworks to animal-rescue, no kill shelters. For sales, commissions, general inquiries or future show information, email: skipperhartzell@yahoo.com / visit www.skiphartzell.com

Local Views at PAMM: Marielle Plaisir

Experience Miami-based artist Marielle Plaisir at the Pérez Art Museum Miami on Thursday, February 28th from 6-6:30pm in Local Views at PAMM. Guests will enjoy the museum’s in-gallery tour program, Local Views at PAMM is where select local artists speak about a few works of art currently on view at the museum. This month, Marielle Plaisir will lead the tour.

Local Views at PAMM gives visitors a first-hand interaction with local artists by creating conversations centered around art and the creative process. This casual 30-minute conversation takes place on the fourth Thursday of each month.

Image: Marielle Plaisir, The divine comedy, 2018. Mixed media, embroideries on stuffed fabric. 130 x 90 x 3 inches.

Meet Kenton Avery, an Emerging Artist from Chicago also known as 'Maze The Artist'

Chicago-based contemporary artist Kenton Avery, also known as 'Maze The Artist', creates very unique work, his pieces have the viewer engaged in solving the intricate mazes embedded within his paintings. A maze is a complicated and confusing system of connected passages, which Kenton equates to life. 

‘Read Between The Lines’, Oil and Acrylic on Canvas, 36 x 36 Inches.

“My art depicts struggle, happiness, and power through layered painting in maze imagery. I believe that each path has a maze, and no matter how difficult, the maze can be conquered. My goal is to create work that integrates representation of different cultures and has the ability to touch everyone,” explained the artist. 

'Hero', Oil and Acrylic on Canvas, 16 x 20 Inches.

Kenton is known for his unique paintings and art merchandise, his style is influenced by pop culture, fashion, music and the iconography of the modern popular culture. "Maze" exhibits his work in Chicago, New York, Las Vegas and Miami. He plans to branch out into additional markets this year, expanding his reach and collector-base.

The artist has shown his work during Miami Art Week and plans to have his art showcased again during Art Basel Miami Week 2019. To learn more about this fascinating artist, for sales information, commissions or general inquires, email mazetheartist1@gmail.com and visit www.mazetheartist.com