Spring Forward (March 1-22, 2024)

Agora Gallery is pleased to announce Spring Forward, an exhibition of paintings by local and international artists marking the unfolding of artistic practices and movements across history.

With a deliberate focus on the continuum of artistic influence, the show brings together artists who seamlessly bridge the gaps between classical traditions and contemporary styles. Echoes of the past reverberate as far back as antiquity traveling across centuries to the modern era. Vibrant tableaux depicting female figures evoke mythical scenes from Ancient Greek amphoras while stirring recollections of Picasso’s Les Demoiselles d’Avignon. Charming vedute of European cities offer modern spins on 17th and 18th century landscape painting, blending elements of Surrealism, Magical Realism, and Metaphysical art. On the contemporary spectrum, expressionism prevails, with gestural emotion-driven brushstrokes, color fields, and unconventional palettes. Other works are equally eclectic, creating enticing, thought-provoking convos between old and new masters. The show invites viewers to explore art’s enduring dialogue across centuries and the dynamic interplay between tradition and innovation.

Spring Forward

Chadwick Arcinue

Darwiche Chamaa

David Daoud

Philippe Farhat

Corine Gholam Fawaz

Christine Iacobuzio-Donahue

Konstantinos Kapelonis

Maryam Nass

Ceren Onbulak

Gia Sabatini

Mark Shevetone

Emilio Trad

Chadwick Arcinue

After an almost 20-year career in business and finance, New Jersey-based artist Chadwick Arcinue decided it was time to pursue his passion for art. Originally from the Philippines, he established The Chadwick Concepts in 2018, a design company through which he promotes his art. A self-taught painter, Arcinue relies on creative intuition and experimentation to present color and texture in abstract and expressionist canvases. Fearlessly exploring bold ideas, new mediums, and original concepts, he pushes himself to expand the boundaries of his work every day.

While Arcinue’s work was originally strongly impressionistic, he developed—almost instinctively—a sense of the abstract and expressionist styles, wherefrom his artistic personality became wholly original. His current body of work is expansive yet thematic, unorthodox yet familiar, intricate yet approachable, constantly shifting but always growing. He employs bold, brisk, and abrupt brushstrokes, lending visual intrigue and impact to each scene. Elsewhere in his portfolio are textured backgrounds and stately geometric forms, demonstrating his range of skills and interests. His mastery of color and surface design, combined with a keen sense of balance and a sharp eye for detail, make Arcinue’s work stand out among his contemporaries.

Darwiche Chamaa

Born in Gabon, Darwiche Chamaa is a Lebanese artist who masterfully captures the lush beauty of his homeland’s landscape through abstract art. Influenced by Modernism, Impressionism, and Cubism, Chamaa embraces abstraction over realism, finding freedom in the exploration of colors and techniques.

Working primarily with oils and occasionally using acrylics and soft pastels, Chamaa begins his process with a watercolor wash. Layer by layer, he builds compositions, incorporating thickness and texture with oil paint. Chamaa’s technique involves deconstructing the landscape into color fields and blocks connected by a web of lines. This simplification of structure and palette allows him to convey the pure essence of the Lebanese scenery.

Chamaa had solo exhibitions at Galerie Cheriff Tabet in Beirut, Lebanon, the Grand Egyptian Museum and Alkhaila Gallery, in Cairo, Egypt. Past group shows include Solidere Beirut, UNESCO Palace, the Lebanese Artists Association, Sursock Museum, and Saifi Village Gallery in Lebanon, and the World Photography Festival in France. His work is in the collections of the French Embassy in Beirut, Farhat Art Museum, and many other institutions.

Philippe Farhat

Philippe Farhat is a painter and interior designer based in Beirut, Lebanon. Executed in a variety of media–acrylic, oil, wood, charcoal, metal, fabric, cement, and rocks–Farhat’s work explores themes of existentialism and cultural identity. Recent pieces focus on abandoned childhood dreams, examining societal norms and personal inhibitions that lead to forsaking aspirations. The perpetual internal conflict, transcending physical boundaries, emphasizes the root of human discord within our own minds. Farhat sees art as a mirror of inner souls and culture, acknowledging its fluidity across countries. His work is a vivid portrayal of the intense dance within collective consciousness, reflecting the transformative nature of art as a living dream—a testament to the complexities of the human experience.

Farhat earned degrees in fine arts and interior design from Lebanese University. Selected solo shows are Galerie Zaman, Galerie Cheriff Tabet, and Lebanese University, in Beirut, Lebanon. Farhat currently teaches at Prunus Academy, CAMM Fashion Academy, and Zouk Municipality.

Between The Beginning And Us

In The Vortex Of Things

Corine Gholam Fawaz

Lebanese painter Corine Gholam Fawaz pays homage to the intricate beauty and immense power that envelops the universe. Her art delves into our vibrant reality through an abstract lens, emphasizing balance, dynamic interaction of forms, and harmonious color compositions. Drawing inspiration from David Alfaro Siqueiros’ experimental painting technique, her latest creations are a testament to fluid mechanics—a captivating interplay of densities and pigments’ viscosities, resulting in mesmerizing clusters. Corine fondly terms this fusion of science and art as “A mingling of science and art,” exploring boundless possibilities that ensnare her within the creative process.

Corine’s recent body of work, the Quantum Thinking Series, unfolds through layered concentric circles of acrylic paint, crafting a three-dimensional visual symphony that transcends conventional thought. It isn’t merely a feast for the eyes; it’s an avant-garde voyage, a mental prowess intersecting art and consciousness.

This transformative experience challenges the confines of perception, shattering preconceived notions with each layered block. Amidst vibrant pigments lies a dance of opposing thoughts—a kaleidoscope of colors representing the myriad possibilities unveiled by quantum thinking. The Quantum Thinking Series beckons, urging one to break free from ordinary confines and embrace the extraordinary realm of conscious creativity.

Christine Iacobuzio-Donahue

Christine Iacobuzio-Donahue’s acrylic paintings and sculptures are profound meditations that stand at a crossroads between spirituality and science. A converted Tibetan Buddhist after a life-changing trip to Nepal, Iacobuzio Donahue has embraced the core teachings of the dharma on the nature and transcendence of dukkha, suffering. Her oeuvre conceals the subtle underpinnings of human reality; truths that we try so hard to forget and push back into the recesses of our mind: the impermanent and arbitrary nature of the universe, the chaotic topography of societal relations, the contrasts inherent to the natural world both within and surrounding us. These verities protrude uncomfortably from amalgams of richly saturated primary color, frenzied doodles, and the unassailable precision found in the geometry of cubes, spheres, rectangles, or marine fossils, of which Iacobuzio Donahue is an avid collector. Beneath the apparent simplicity and naivete of her minimalist compositions, Iacobuzio Donahue reveals the web of complexities that make up our existence.

Iacobuzio Donahue has a Bachelor’s in Biology from Adelphi University and a medical degree from Boston University. A gastrointestinal pathologist, she runs a research laboratory dedicated to the evolutionary biology and genetics of pancreatic neoplasms. Iacobuzio Donahue lives and works in New York City.

Konstantinos Kapelonis

A Cretan-born artist who has called New York City home for over five decades, Konstantinos Kapelonis intricately weaves together the rich motifs of Minoan art, Abstraction, and Cubism, infusing everyday objects with a unique perspective. Each stroke on his canvas narrates a life’s journey—from the majestic Greek mountains to the vibrant tapestry of experiences found in America. In his bustling New York City studio, he constantly explores diverse styles, resulting in an impressive portfolio boasting over 1,100 distinct works. His creations serve as a visual chronicle, seamlessly merging ancient influences with the pulsating energy of the contemporary world—a vibrant celebration of life through art.

Combining diverse expressions encompassing modernism, cubism, realism, and formalism, Kapelonis draws inspiration from mundane objects, everyday encounters, and the media. Through his brush, he paints a canvas that reflects a life rich in stories—a childhood in a quaint Greek village, globe-trotting on a boat, immigration to the New York City, entrepreneurial ventures in the restaurant business, the daily rhythm of family life, and the exploration of the city that never sleeps.

Maryam Nass

Bahraini artist Maryam Nass finds her expressive outlet through abstract art and natureinspired compositions, where she delves into her inner emotions and reflections on life. Nass’ artistic journey began at a young age, painting on porcelain, but family expectations led her away from pursuing art professionally. When her father was diagnosed with cancer in 2004, she returned to art as a way to still her mind and cope with her thoughts. Since then, she has never stopped painting and continues to explore her artistic expression through the use of oils, which grants her the freedom to embrace risk and unexpected details in her work. Painting alla prima, she blends the colors directly on the canvas with a palette knife, over the course of several days.

Nass’ work carries profound personal significance, as exemplified by the image of birds, found in many of her pieces. Two gray red-streaked pigeons first appeared during the time of her father and younger brother’s passing, becoming a symbolic representation of her emotions. These birds have left an indelible mark on her, inspiring her art and her collectors as emblems of good omens and blessings. Through paintings, Nass finds liberation, a way to quiet the voices in her head, and a means to express her inner self beyond words.

Ceren Onbulak

Turkish artist Ceren Onbulak creates evocative abstract paintings aimed at stirring emotions, enriching souls, and capturing the vibrancy of life through unfiltered expression. Onbulak’s devotion to sensory awakening is evident in her use of diverse materials and mediums, ranging from acrylic paint and spray paint to natural objects found in the nearby forest. Monochromatic and flat surfaces are avoided in favor of textured, multicolored applications to create lively compositions replete with contrasts. In this vein, Onbulak’s most recent series Entropy and Touch highlight the conflicts we face as we go through life—chaos versus equilibrium, uncertainty versus balance.

Through endless experimentation, Onbulak inspires intimate engagement with her paintings, visually, tactilely, and emotionally, forming powerful bonds with the spectator. “My aim is to reach and stimulate people’s senses, to nourish their souls, to add joy and color to their lives,” she says. “I want them to be unable to take their eyes away from looking. I want them to get excited as they look at it, to want to touch it.”

After twenty years in the marketing industry, Onbulak has found liberation in the spontaneity of art. Allowing her emotions to flow seamlessly on the canvas, she embraces a realm of boundless freedom and possibilities.

Gia Sabatini

Gia A. Sabatini is an abstract multidisciplinary artist based in New York. Sabatini uses painting as a way to communicate her thoughts and emotions. In the rawest form, she reflects what she sees and feels at a given time. Using mixed media materials from coffee grounds to tire shreds as well as various paints, inks, resins, and modeling paste, Sabatini’s works feature an interplay of texture, color, and abstract expressions. She enjoys mixing materials and observing how their personalities interact on canvas and paper. The juxtaposition of thick paints and media with watery and soft ones is a narrative theme throughout her work. Both have their own personalities and when together they either marry or fight.

Sabatini holds a degree in graphic design from the Art Institute of Pittsburgh. Alongside her painting practice, she works as a graphic designer and enjoys drawing tattoos.

And Life Will Always Be, 2023 Mixed media on paper 22” x 30”

Mark Shevetone

Las Vegas painter Mark Shevetone finds humor and quirks in everyday occurrences, whether inspired by domestic life, travels, or local landmarks. Figuring prominently in many of his paintings is Belma, Shevetone’s charismatic English bulldog, who goes about her daily canine existence lounging on a plush pillow, longingly staring at the garden flowers, or sneakily pawing at the kitchen sink. Wineries, the Nevada desert, Italian gardens, marine twilights–Shevetone captures the glorious beauty of his surroundings. His latest series depicts Nara Park, in Japan, and its changing scenery across the seasons. Enthralled by the park’s rich history and captivating allure, he encapsulates its enchanting spirit with a playful touch. The colors are bright and upbeat, inviting us to find the absurd and perhaps a bit of whimsy in the ordinary. Through unorthodox palettes and narratives, Shevetone uncovers unexpected angles, revealing the deeper threads that connect people, no matter who and where they are.

Emilio Trad

Emilio Trad is an Argentinean painter working and living in Paris. With an artistic journey spanning over a decade, Trad’s focus lies in discovering equilibrium and harmony within figurative painting. Merging classical representation with contemporary contexts, Trad resists categorization, perpetually evolving in pursuit of innovative visual expressions. His recent work combines traditional oil painting techniques with newspaper collage and text fragments, juxtaposing subjects from old masterpieces with contemporary sceneries. This creates a dynamic tension that spurs reflection on our human role throughout history and the interplay between past and present times. A pursuer of beauty, Trad believes art is a divine gift to be welcomed with humility. He is inspired by the diversity of life–the good, the bad, and the absurd–spotting grace in every fragment. Trad’s art serves as a profound exploration of the complexities of existence and the enduring pursuit of aesthetic perfection.

Trad earned a degree in fine arts in Buenos Aires. His work was exhibited in Paris, Buenos Aires, Beirut, The Hauge, Brussels, London, and Miami. He received the Grand Prix de Barbizon and was granted awards from Paris Salon d’Automne and the Taylor Foundation in Paris.

Gallery hopping in New York

Agora Gallery is located within the heart of the Chelsea Arts District with available hours from Tuesday – Saturday 11 am - 6 pm.

Opening receptions are held once a month, giving you the opportunity to meet the artists and view a variety of original artwork. Visit our website and subscribe to our mailing list to stay up to date on all events and happenings – www.Agora-Gallery.com/mailinglist

Chelsea, New York City