Tarik Talk

Leonard is a figurative artist whose focus is emotion expressed through the body language of the subject. He finds it interesting, fascinating in fact that the viewer can empathize emotional experience simply by observing body language. This emotive body language maybe the result of the interaction of the subjects or possibly a shared experience where each subject individually expresses emotion in their own particular way. Even in single subject portraiture he finds subjects express emotion through their posture. While creating, Leonard experiences emotion through expressive mark making which he finds has the power to evoke emotion. In his art Leonard explores this idea of expressed emotion through body language and/or mark making that has the power to create empathy in the viewer. Leonard wants the viewer to think; I know what that person is feeling, or I’ve been there before. Or even wonder, What is that person thinking? Leonard’s intent is to create an emotional experience in the viewer.

My imaginative universe of art is inspired by nature, music and eastern spiritual concepts. The art forms of abstract expression I create in my paintings are unique and alive, full of bursting and positive energy. I try to capture the moments from memories and emotions for my creation. I hope my abstract paintings can invoke dialogues and stretch the imagination. My intention is to actively create positivity and transcend beyond ordinary life in an upright and bright manner.My art is aimed to condense the elements in life and essence of the universe onto canvas. Dripping, dropping, swiping are usually the beginning of my practice and I let the color mix of fluid acrylic and flashe paint move around organically with the manipulation of brush strokes. I especially apply brush techniques I have learned from calligraphy to create the dynamic feelings in my painting. My practice is very intuitive, liberating, and personal, with the intention to create a play of colors and forms that invite open discussion and interpretation. It's also a way of expressing my gratitude for every moment, living and breathing, as well as my love and respect for the world as it hopefully recovers from covid.

Yiding Yang (he/him), a private collector based in Hoboken, NJ, predicts a paradigm shift with the growing role of artificial intelligence in creative fields, both democratizing art commissions and prioritizing human involvement.Yang's journey as a collector began with frequent visits to local and international art fairs, places where he discovered a vibrant array of artists and a diversity of expression that deeply resonated with him. Driven by the desire to evoke the essence of the 'inner child,' Yang's collection is playful and nostalgic.Yang splits his time as a lab assistant at Stevens Institute of Technology and a receptionist at China Institute, a cultural and educational organization that aims to advance a deeper understanding of China. His work at the institute not only enriches his understanding of Chinese culture and its influence on art, but it also reinforces his appreciation for diversity and the importance of cultural representation within the art world.

Alexander Yulish (b. 1975, New York) works within an unfolding narrative of improvisation and abstraction in paintings that convey the inner psychology of both human and external forms. Working predominantly in large scale formats, Yulish utilizes a direct, impasto brush, building irregular shapes layer by layer into gestural, complex color arrangements in order to reveal abstract figurative forms. The movement of these gestures throughout each painting is marked simultaneously by harmony, undulation and discord, all playing out across the canvas with a distinct lyrical impulse unifying the composition of his work. The scale of each works allows him to communicate an inner dialogue with tactful urgency, expressing the depths and complexities of the human psyche.Producing within an immediate and expressive format, Yulish’s studio practice is borne of varying applications of acrylic on canvas as part of an elaborative process. Swirls of lines and broader shapes are established, conjoined, integrated and sometimes lost within the ceaseless creation of new forms and expressions. This tension between success, failure and the precariousness of sustaining gestural rhythm are active elements that define his creative process as well as the nature of his depicted subjects.The junction of his improvisational process within the context of figurative painting reveals the subjective world of both the artist and his subject. In his interrogation of human forms through abstraction, the reality of the body and the self succumb to notions of human presence, unwinding definite shape and form into a familiar, yet implacable realm. It is here where he explores an array of altered mind states ranging from bestial physicality, limitless elation and humanity in all of its elements painted with a distinct pathos originating from his unique grasp of improvisation and abstraction. Throughout all of his work, Yulish adeptly renders moments of interior subjectivity into a brilliant and distinct external presence.Alexander Yulish studied fine art at Connecticut College and has been featured in numerous solo shows of work, most recently his 2015 solo show Immovable Thoughts at ACE Gallery, Los Angeles. His work is included in the collection of Museo Jumex, Mexico City.

Tris McCall is a music journalist, novelist, and rock musician from Hudson County, New Jersey, described by The New York Times as "the plugged-in, Internet-era muse of Jersey City." In 2010, he became the music critic for the Newark Star-Ledger. As of 2017, McCall has released four solo albums; songs intended for two future albums are previewed alongside his short stories in a web project called McCall's Almanac.Tris McCall has written about art, architecture, performance, politics, and public culture for many publications, including the Newark Star-Ledger, the Bergen Record, Jersey Beat, the Jersey City Reporter, the Jersey Journal, the Jersey City Independent, and New Jersey dot com.Discography1998 Straw Man Special1999 If One of These Bottles Should Happen to Fall: Jersey Songs by Tris McCall2003 Shootout at the Sugar Factory 2006 I'm Assuming You're All in Bands: Tris McCall in Brooklyn 2009 Let the Night FallMcCall's first novel, The Trespassers, was written in 2006 and published in 2012.

Josh Urso is a contemporary sculptor in Jersey City, NJ working in concrete, stone, and various pigments. He studied engineering and product design at Carnegie Mellon University and owned and operated Josh Urso Design, a furniture and lighting design business for over 20 years before pursuing sculpture full time. His background in producing functional objects and his familiarity with manufacturing processes instilled in him a love of materials and a drive to explore purely sculptural forms. His work is inspired by the natural world, the inherent qualities of materials, and his desire to create monumental forms. He has always been intrigued with breaking the geometric form with the fluid line. Josh’s sculptures are suitable for indoor as well as outdoor installations such as sculpture gardens, landscape elements, and public spaces. They can be scaled up with site-specific dimensions in mind. Commissions are welcomed. Statement Nature and specifically the strata of geology inspires my work. I’m attempting to capture and convey the beauty of rock and soil through the use of concrete, stone, and pigment. My inspiration comes not only from the macro of canyons and riverbeds but also the micro of dried mud and aggregate. I hope to preserve my personal memory of encounters with these elements, even as erosion, climate change, and other manmade and natural forces erase them. I have also had a love of materials since college and a desire to explore purely sculptural forms. These concrete pieces represent a fascination with process and the immediacy of cast concrete, but also a wanting to create monumental forms out of commonplace materials. In addition to the natural world, I draw inspiration and techniques from both the art world and the more humble building trades – fabricating precise molds, blending concrete and aggregate mixtures to effect surface texture and weight, sculpting the work with the powerful blows of a hammer and chisel, and finishing the pieces with pigments to highlight elements of the design. I have always enjoyed bisecting the geometric form with the fluidity of line. This can be seen through cracked concrete and stone as well as through chisel.

Kim Bricker is a contemporary printmaking artist currently living in Jersey City, NJ. She received a BA in Fine Arts with a concentration in 2D Media from Carnegie Mellon University in 2002 and an MA in Museum Studies from George Washington University in 2004. She has worked in furniture design, graphic design, and even jewelry design, always seeking out opportunities to be creative. Travel to the American Southwest, Colorado, the Nevada desert, Wyoming, and Montana is her current muse, and she finds herself drawing, painting, and printmaking with a renewed interest in landscapes and representing the story of a place in a contemporary way. She currently creates at a studio she shares with her husband at 150 Bay Street in downtown Jersey City. Statement: My focus is a contemporary portrayal of the landscape, using layered printmaking techniques to explore the color, light, and form that characterize specific places. I draw inspiration from personal travels, photographs, and the “Imagined Landscapes” I conjure in my own mind, created from my personal interpretation of what makes places unique. I don’t shy away from celebrating the beauty of the landscape, exploring its rugged nature, or gazing a voyeuristic eye on iconic landscapes such as those found in the American National Parks. I believe landscapes tell complex stories to any who are patient enough to listen.

LAWRENCE CIARALLO is an artist, designer and muralist from the city of Hoboken, New Jersey. His work is an eclectic mix of portraits, pop art and mixed media pieces that address a myriad of topics and honor a diverse group of individuals. As part of his art practice he is a member of the YNY Alliance for Young New Yorkers, an organization that provides diversion programs for court-involved young people in New York City.ARTIST STATEMENT, My paintings and murals are inspired by the endless beauty that exists amidst the chaos of daily life. To exemplify this spectrum, I utilize a mixture of collage, abstraction and portraiture. Portraiture allows for the duality of addressing current events and or celebrating a group or individual. These pieces offer insight to my beliefs and interests as my subjects are an array of musicians, authors, scholars, artists and athletes whose accomplishments provide endless motivation personally and creatively. My objective is to create work that stimulates, informs, and engages the viewer.

Georgina Billington is an internationally acclaimed makeup artist, renowned for her bold and imaginative vision of feminine beauty. With over two decades of experience in the industry, she has worked with top-tier international editions of Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, and at prestigious events like Milan, Paris, London & NYC Fashion Weeks. Georgina has worked with some of the biggest names in the entertainment industry, including Joan Jett, Jessie J, Grace VanderWaal, Padma Lakshmi, and more. Her impressive client list includes world-class brands like Samsung, Nike, and MAC Cosmetics.Georgina's diverse talents go beyond makeup artistry. She is a skilled body painter and fine artist, whose works have been showcased in top galleries such as the Bowery Hotel in NYC and Mark Borghi Gallery in The Hamptons. In addition, she utilized her body painting talents to create a stunning look for Anthony Kiedis in The Red Hot Chilli Pepper's music video 'Go Robot'.In 2017, Georgina released her first book, Gorgiality, and has continued to contribute to art shows throughout the world. She opened her private makeup and body paint studio in 2021 in Jersey City, and launched her art print website, www.georginabillingtonartstore.com, where she sells prints of her works and participates in art exhibitions.Georgina's unparalleled talent, vision, and expertise have earned her international acclaim, making her a valuable addition to any production. Her passion for fusing high-fashion make-up artistry with her talent for body painting and fine arts sets her apart as a visionary in the industry.

Fabricio Suarez is an artist from Uruguay working in NY/NJ area. He received his BFA in Fine Arts and illustration from the School of Visual Arts.He has been a part of numerous group shows in NJ, NY & LA and has done residencies at Mana Contemporary in Jersey City and Artists Off-the-Grid, in Red Feather Lakes, Colorado.His current studio practice described as Abstract Baroque, consist of moody surrealist paintings, distorting compositions of traditional European portraits and landscapes with spiritual elements of American savagery. Where abstract brushstrokes acting as “characters” form a narrative in the landscape. A basic exploration of relationships between impulsive mark making.He is also an illustrator, sculptor and an avid plain air painter, focusing on the urban landscape; and has also traveled around the U.S, Europe & South America painting a great variety of landscapes.He lives and works in Jersey City.

Mindy Gluck Artist Statement: My desire to create visual imagery using abstraction, to create worlds that don’t exist in reality, reflects my belief that there will always be truths we can’t prove: mysteries, the unknown, truths that are beyond science and mind. Enter the realm of imagination to create worlds that can’t be proven or seen until they are brought into the light. This is the journey I am having which is surprising and exciting, that allows for any possibility to be created.

Tzara Paints, Painter of Shapes @TzaraPaints In this episode we talk about Tzara creative process, inspirations, medium, the meaning behind her work and much more! Feel free to see her Instagram, at @tzarapaints, where you can see a wide range of her work, behind the scenes as she paints, and fun time lapse of her creative process. For inquiries, please follow Tzara on Instagram, @tzarapaints to inquire in regards to art work, commissions and studio visits.

Heloise (pronounced "Hello-ease") graduated Parsons The New School for Design with a fashion degree, and Northwestern University with a B.A. in Comparative Literature. She has studied Art at the Atelier of the Louvre in Paris, & at the Centre D’Art Contemporain in Istres, France. Her first formal artistic training was in classical piano, from age 5-17. She also performed in voice, acting/musical theater throughout her schooling, winning awards. She received a fashion design AAS from Parsons The New School for Design in 2006, where she trained with professor Laura Volpintesta & faculty. After graduating, she worked as a designer-illustrator for NYC companies J.Crew, Express, Alice Roi & numerous clients. In 2008, Heloise relocated to Vermont aiming to cultivate her skills in the visual arts. In 2009, she launched the J.Heloise line of greeting cards at the summer Artist Market. The product offerings quickly grew from a small table to a full selection in stores & online. She also taught art at the college level & recrationally to students of all ages. After 8 years, she returned to the NYC-area, where Heloise currently resides. She continues to create both art & music as a songwriter/singer and is currently producing an album of original songs in Jersey City. She has provided art commissions for businesses & clients for over 14 years.

About Paul Wirhun:I have been working on eggshells since I was 8 years old, learning the traditional Ukrainian art of pysanky from my mother. This artistic and cultic use of eggs informs my work to this day - as I believe that eggs are events - not simply objects. The shells (while the protective casing for the new life inside) are memories of the primal events that produced the eggs, intended as new life.In order to infuse new life into this ancient folk art, I have manipulated traditional processes with innovative dyeing & brush techniques, and etching, to forge a new visual language to write on this versatile, organic sphere. The facility of the shell for a range of techniques (batiking, scratching, painting, gilding) affords me a great range of visual expression to manifest ideas, events, and fantasies.“Ancient design for a new worldview” has been the mantra underpinning my studio philosophy and praxis. Picking up pieces of broken eggshells and reconstructing them into new images, the work of my studio, seems like an apt metaphor for this moment. This process born out of recycling studio detritus has offered me a new way to construct new worldviews. Bringing forward from the past images, designs, and compositions can visually realign how we see our own world in these times.

Grove is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts in NYC with a BFA in Photography, Her work has been exhibited throughout the United States, Europe, and Japan. She has been published in numerous books, magazines, and newspapers and has pieces in public and private collections both in the United States and Europe. She is the creator of the group "Thou Art Mom"; which stemmed from her series of the same name and brings mother artists together for support and networking. She has curated two shows with the same title as well as others on different themes. Grove is also the creator and curator of 24/7/art an online gallery on Facebook.For the past several years Grove’s work has been landscape based. While there are never any figures in the work there is always the mark that humanity has left: industrial wastelands giving way to high rises, farmland and forests folding to create overgrown housing developments, automobiles distorting the scenery they were manufactured to speed through, boat hulls recording the stormy seascapes they were built to navigate. Signs of a “civilized” culture. The work distorts the landscape to show the damage we are doing to it. These are toxic environments we are creating by industry, human convenience, progress. Visually, Grove is deeply inspired by painters like Gerhard Richter and Anselm Kiefer and strives to create photographic work that is painterly.

Josué Morales Urbina is a Guatemalan installation artist who lives and works in the New York metropolitan area. His art practice spans various media as he explores transcultural displacement and memory through installation and sculptural work. His playful and elegant forms reference a rich material practice, where he examines his own cultural identity and the ideological experience of being a “third culture kid.” He was born in Guatemala City and has lived across the United States in varying geographic locations. Morales Urbina holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at San Antonio with a minor in Art History and Criticism. He is also an alumni from the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in Maine.

Masha Vladimir is a Ukrainian born multidisciplinary artist and storyteller whose artwork is personified by way of Soviet village upbringing and her experience as an immigrant teenager in the Y2K era.Masha’s artistic rolodex includes painting, digital design, styling, creative direction, choreography and photography.