Park West Gallery Artist Anatole Krasnyansky

Anatole Krasnyansky’s use of brilliant colors and surreal forms invites the viewer into his wonderful fusion of traditional Europe and theatrical L.A. His artworks contain echoes of his Eastern heritage while incorporating the modernity and energy of the American culture he encountered when he left the U.S.S.R. for the United States in 1975.

After coming to the United States, Krasnyansky evolved a second wholly new style of artwork. These new figural compositions border on the surreal, but never depart from the recognizable. He also continues to create his traditional cityscapes, which have always been much admired in Europe; however, they have grown richer, freer and more expressive.

Through experimentation Krasnyansky has developed his own artistic method, one that has freed him from the constraints of traditional watercolor techniques. His innovative inclusion of paper texture into the creative process is a dynamic component of his art, resulting in an expansion of the medium’s potential. He is one of the first artists to elevate the watercolor medium to the expressive possibilities usually associated with oil painting.

Krasnyansky comparing the precision and talent required to paint in watercolor with playing a violin: "A false note is easily recognizable. Move your finger just a touch and the sound is not that which it should be. In order for the instrument to make the right sound, in order to play the violin without committing an error, it is of the utmost importance to have an impeccable technique and a good ear."

Related Links:

• Park West Gallery Artist Sites: Anatole Krasnyansky



• Park West Gallery Krasnyansky Collection



• Park West Gallery Artist Bios: Anatole Krasnyansky

Salvador Dali Exhibit Featuring Francesco Vezzoli

The exhibition Dalí Dalí Featuring Francesco Vezzoli is currently on view at the Moderna Museet (Museum of Modern Art) in Stockholm, Sweden. The exhibit uniquely juxtaposes a historical artist with a contemporary artist and looks at Dali’s oeuvre in a contemporary context while looking at Vezzoli from a historical perspective.

Salvador Dali the phenomenon is still highly interesting today, particularly his use of the mass media. It is hard to distinguish between Dali the man and Dali the celebrity. In an attempt to provide more information about the artist and the Park West Gallery Dali Collection, Park West has created a website dedicated to the Surrealist Master.

For more information on the Dali Exhibit visit the
Park West Gallery Art Blog

Letters Provide New Window into Joan Miro’s Life

Over one thousand letters and postcards sent by artist Joan Miró (a vast majority of which were unpublished until now) are being featured in the first volume of the Epistolari Català de Joan Miró (Joan Miró’s Catalan Letters).


Miró sent these letters to his relatives and childhood friends as well as art critics, artists, gallery owners, and journalists. They enable us to follow the course of Miró’s life from his early years as an artist, his departure for Paris, the strategies of the 1920s, the splendor of the 1930s, the cultural wilderness of the Franco years, and the desire to start again with renewed energy after the end of the Second World War.

For more information on Joan Miró’s Catalan Letters visit the
Park West Gallery Art Blog

Related Links:

• Park West Gallery Joan Miró Collection



• Park West Gallery Artist Bios: Joan Miro

Remembering a Creative Legend: Roy E. Disney

Last week on Wednesday, December 16th the world lost a creative legend: Roy E. Disney. In addition to spearheading many celebrated projects, he was the person responsible for completing “Destino,” a short film by Salvador Dali and Walt Disney that remained unfinished for almost 60 years.

His passing led Park West Gallery Director Morris Shapiro to reflect on his New Year’s Eve meeting with Mr. Disney in 2006 during which he was able to inquire about being a child “hanging out” in the Disney milieu and the amazing legacy of Mr. Disney’s own life’s work, among other things.

To read the entire article by Morris Shapiro, visit the
Park West Gallery Art Blog

Peter Max’s Cosmic Apps

Pop Artist Peter Max has created posters, magazine covers, and art products that have captured the imagination of several generations. Since the 1970s Park West Gallery has enjoyed a very fruitful and rewarding relationship with the artist, and is now the largest and longest-running Peter Max dealer.


Continuing his tradition of being at the forefront of art media, Max is now releasing two apps that can be downloaded at the iTunes AppStore. “The Peter Max Birthdays” provides different Max images for each day of the year, and “The Peter Max eCard Gallery” offers 20 Max eCards with the artist’s most iconic imagery.

For more information on the Peter Max Apps, visit the
Park West Gallery Art Blog

Related Links:

• The Park West Gallery – Peter Max Collection



• Park West Artist Biographies – Peter Max

Park West Gallery Artist Linda Le Kinff

Park West Gallery Artist Linda Le Kinff began her career as a painter at the age of 20. She lived and worked in Italy for 12 years, learning the ancient techniques of tempera, egg painting and the gold leaf method taught by masters in Florence and Livorno. She also served an apprenticeship in wood engraving, copper engraving, and excelled in learning the modern techniques of acrylic and airbrush painting.

Since then, Le Kinff has honed her artistic skills even more and has been well received by fine art collectors the world over. Her passion and talent continue to be recognized – she is the recipient of numerous awards and has completed several prestigious commissions.

Recent activities:

• Created the official artwork of the 2010 Kentucky Derby and Kentucky Oaks.



• Selected as a member of the Société Nationale des Beaux Arts, a company which hosts several arts fairs at the Grand Palais and at the Carrousel du Louvre, Paris.



• Commissioned by the Vincennes Floral Park in July 2009.



• Guest of honor in Reims in March 2009, invited by the Champagne Palmers who promoted the 2006 Korean exhibition.



• Writing text for various lectures about art and the role of the artist in Society

Recent Exhibitions:

• Calvi, Corse (June 2009)



• Museum Castel of Orleans, Château Leblanc (May 2009)

Recent Awards:

• First prize from the public for an engraving at Saint Germain en Laye (May 2009)



• Sculpture prize in Bruxelles at the Contemporary Artists Fair (March 2009)

Related Links:

• Park West Gallery Contemporary Artist Sites: Linda Le Kinff



• Park West Gallery Le Kinff Collection

Exhibition of Rembrandt’s Portrait Prints

Most remembered by the general public for his paintings, Rembrandt van Rijn is also considered by many to be the greatest etcher of all time, and for over 40 years Park West Gallery has been a world-wide source for collectors of original etchings by the Old Master.

An exhibition of Rembrandt’s portrait prints are now on view at the Norton Simon Museum. The 15 etchings presented in The Familiar Face: Portrait Prints by Rembrandt illustrate the artist’s keen power of observation as well as his gift for drama and humor. They also shed light on Rembrandt’s world and introduce us to some of his friends, family members and contemporaries.

For more information on the Rembrandt Exhibit, visit the
Park West Gallery Art Blog

Related Links:

• Park West Gallery Master Sites: Rembrandt



• Park West Gallery Rembrandt Collection

New Picasso Etchings Discovered

Thirteen etchings created by Pablo Picasso were discovered earlier this year by Professor Andrés Soria while leafing through the pages of an illustrated edition of a book of poems by the Spanish poet Luis de Góngora, which was bought by Spain’s National Library a decade ago.

The aquatints were jammed into the pages of the book, which was owned by the artist’s lover and muse, Dora Maar. It seems that Picasso was so disgusted with the illustrations created by Ignacio González de la Serna that he tore them out and inserted artist’s proofs of his own work.

For more about the recently discovered Picasso etchings visit the
Park West Gallery Art Blog

Related Links:

• Park West Gallery Master Sites: Pablo Picasso



• Park West Gallery Picasso Artwork Collection

World’s Largest Menorah Created by Yaacov Agam

Yaacov Agam, world-renowned kinetic artist and member of the Park West Gallery family of artists for over 30 years, designed a Chanukah Menorah certified by the Guinness Book of Records as the World’s Largest. It can be found at New York’s most fashionable plaza, Fifth Avenue and 59th Street, by Central Park, between the Plaza and the Pierre Hotels.

The creation of the Menorah was sponsored by the Lubavitch Youth Organization. It was inspired by a hand drawing by the Rambam (Maimonides) of the original Menorah in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem. The 32-foot high, gold-colored, 4,000 pound steel structure will be lit nightly with genuine oil lamps. Specially designed glass chimneys will protect the Chanukah lights from the Central Park winds.

For more information on the World’s Largest Menorah visit the

Park West Gallery Art Blog

Tavern Scenes at the Rijksmuseum

Rembrandt van Rijn, the artist viewed by so many as the world’s greatest etcher, is currently being featured in an exhibition at the Rijksmuseum. The Tavern Scenes exhibition gives an idea of what it was like to be in a tavern in the 16th and 17th century.

In his etchings, Rembrandt was able to convey so much information about his subjects. Therefore it is fitting that his etchings would be used as a window into Holland’s past – in this case used as a window into life in Holland’s taverns.

For more information on Tavern Scenes visit the

 Park West Gallery Art Blog

Park West Gallery Artist Alfred Gockel

Alfred “Alex” Gockel has been a favorite among Park West collectors from the moment his signature action artworks were added to the Park West Gallery Collection. People gravitate to Gockel’s work because of his brilliant use of color and the graceful motion of his figures.

Gockel has become one of the most prolific distributors of modern art posters in the world. Some estimates put sales at over 10 million worldwide, and his works can be seen in design studios, private collections, and corporate businesses worldwide.

Signature Style
Boldly colored abstract images lined in thick black against a white canvas.

Gockel Quotes
“Often in my paintings I use elements that reflect my challenging past, when as a boy I worked in the coal mines. But my purpose is to express my joy in life, and to show that we can overcome many obstacles through the expressions of life's beauties.”

“Art both influences culture and imitates it. I am influenced by the colors, symbols, textures, fibers and designs used by different cultures around the world.”

Notable Collectors
Michael Jordan, Shaquille O’Neil, Cristie Kerr, Pat Robinson and hip-hop musician Ludacris.

Notable Commission
The United States Olympic Committee commissioned Gockel to create an official artwork for the 2006 Olympics in Turin, Italy. His artwork was inspired by the greatness of Winter Olympic sports including skiing, bobsledding, and hockey.

Related Links:

• Alfred Gockel Website



• Alfred Gockel Bio



• Alfred Gockel Artwork

Park West Artist’s Inspiring Venice Excursion

In an essay written exclusively for Park West Gallery by artist Peter Nixon, the artist details his latest Venice excursion. Viewing Venice’s most famed artworks while being surrounded by ethereal architecture and dreamy waters left Nixon inspired. His love of Venice led him to create a triptych of paintings, Venetian Colour – Vermilion, Ultramarine and Gold (shown below).

Read the entire essay written by Park West Artist Peter Nixon at the Park West Gallery Art Blog.

Related Links:

• The Alchemic Nature of Painting



• Peter Nixon’s Goddesses of the Moon



• Park West Gallery Artist Biographies: Peter Nixon



• Browse the Park West Gallery / Peter Nixon Artwork Collection

MFA presents Albrecht Durer Art Exhibition

Famed German draftsman, painter and writer, Albrecht Dürer, is best known for his exquisite, intricate woodcuts and engravings. Dürer’s name is included among art history’s Old Masters, and he continues to earn renown for his innovative, skillfully-executed works. Visit http://www.parkwestgallery.com/ to learn more about the Park West Gallery - Old Masters Collection.
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BOSTON, MA — The Museum of Fine Arts, Boston presents Albrecht Durer: Virtuoso Printmaker. Albrecht Dürer was the pivotal figure of Late Gothic and High Renaissance German art. He remains, after 500 years — like Rembrandt, Goya, and Picasso — one of the supreme masters of printmaking. His engravings and woodcuts are a dazzling combination of observation, imagination, and technical virtuosity.

Albrecht Durer: Virtuoso Printmaker is a choice selection of some 45 works from the MFA's outstanding collection including iconic prints, such as the engravings Adam and Eve (1504), Knight, Death, and the Devil (1513), and the woodcut of the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse (1497-98). Lesser-known but equally compelling engravings, such as The Prodigal Son amid the Swine (1496) and the Coat of Arms of Death (1503), document Dürer’s remarkable powers of observation as well as his vivid imagination. A newly acquired early impression of the rare woodcut The Beheading of St. Catherine (1498) joins a lineup of great impressions of the artist's single-sheet woodcuts from the 1490s.

The exhibition also features selections from Dürer’s celebrated woodcut series, including The Large Passion and The Life of the Virgin, his innovative experiments with new media, including the etching of the Landscape with the Cannon (1518) and the drypoint of St. Jerome by the Pollard Willow (1512), and books he authored and illustrated on human proportion, drawing devices, and fortification.

Albrecht Durer: Virtuoso Printmaker is now on view through July 3, 2010.

For more information, please visit www.mfa.org
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Related Links:

• Decoding the Durer in Dan Brown’s The Lost Symbol



• Albrecht Dürer: Impressions of the Renaissance



• Park West Gallery Artist Biographies: Albrecht Dürer



• Artwork from the Park West Gallery / Dürer Collection



• Park West Gallery Master Sites: Rembrandt van Rijn