SmithKlein Gallery has brought in a few new artists. Take a look at some of the amazing works by these talented individuals:
Graceann Warn
Although Graceann Warn’s academic background is in urban design and classical archaeology, she decided to take a leap of faith in 1985 and become a full-time artist. She started out as an oil painter, but throughout the 1990s became best known for her assemblages. A few years ago, a 16-month-long commission to design sets for a major opera production, Orfeo ed Euridice, led to a shift in medium (as well as scale) in her studio work. Since that time, she has primarily been painting on wood panels using oils and encaustic.
Encaustic is a wax-based medium with natural dyes. Graceann’s present work reflects the structural logic of her architectural beginnings as well as her continued interest in archaeology and science.
Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is in the collections of Yale University; Museum of Art and Design, New York, NY,; US Embassies in Nairobi and Sarajevo; Pew Charitable Trusts and many others.
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| "Connect 4" Encaustic 41" x 31" |
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| "Delhi" Encaustic 41" x 31" |
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| "Destination" Encaustic 32" x 62" |
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| "Interloper" Encaustic 41" x 31" |
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| "Rain" Encaustic 41" x 31" |
Garmish
After college graduation Michael had to serve 3 years in the Soviet army. During his 1st vacation, he came to his hometown and visited his art college. As he was walking out, he spotted a beautiful girl on the bus stop by the college, which showed him a cold shoulder when he tried to approach her. As he says, "for me, it was love at first sight." Michael took a taxicab to follow the bus and saw where she lived. When it got dark, instead of going back to the army like he was obligated to, Michael started painting the portrait of the girl on the wall of the building her window faced. When morning came, Inessa saw her beautiful self, painted on a wall of a 4 story brown brick building. Michael, however, was not standing by his creation because he was arrested by the military police.
The next time he had a vacation from the army and came back home, Inessa heart was opened for the romance.In a year they were married and to commemorate their first meeting, Michael climbed the electrical pole by the bus stop and hung a garland made of daisies that his bride wore for the wedding ceremony.
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| "Tender Age" 24" x 24" Oil |
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| "On the Terrace" 36" x 15" Oil |
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| "Morning Alone" 24" x 36" Oil |
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| "Early Evening" 12" x 18" Oil |
Both Michael and Inessa Garmash were born in Russia where they were schooled and studied art. An early starter, Michael Garmash began painting at the age of three. By age six Michael Garmash started his formal education at the Lugansk Youth Creative Center. Recognizing rare, natural talent, his teachers sent his works to a variety of exhibitions in the then Soviet Union. Ms. Garmash, born Inessa Kitaichik in 1972 Lipetsk, Russia, has excelled in the arts since early childhood. Inessa Garmash entered the Lugansk Fine Art School at age fifteen. At seventeen Inessa Garmash was accepted as that year's best undergraduate to the Lugansk State Fine Art School.
