Iranian-born artist Hessam Abrishami has won a following for his lush, romantic canvases, on display in Safety Harbor.
By EILEEN SCHULTE
Published October 17, 2003
SAFETY HARBOR - To his longtime collectors, Hessam Abrishami paints life, love and happiness. His colorful, faceless figures dance, embrace, play guitar and sing on his canvases with total abandon and unrestrained joy.
Those who stand and gaze at the acrylic works are drawn in, "feeling the pain, laughter and enjoyment of the characters," said the artist's son, Kavah Abrishami.
It's as if they get caught up in the romance and want to join the party, but the closest they can come is to buy a painting.
Abrishami, who lives in Agoura Hills, a city near Los Angeles, will attend a reception Saturday to celebrate the opening of a nearly four-week exhibit of his works at Syd Entel Galleries in Safety Harbor.
"We're so excited," said Linda Gagliostro, who arranges shows at the gallery. "We've hosted him for 10 years, but this is the first time he's appeared at the gallery."
Paintings, sculptures and limited edition prints are priced from about $2,400 to $27,000.
Abrishami's work, with its sharp colors and sentimental quality, is gaining in value. According to Gagliostro, his works are selling for double what they did a decade ago. One of his paintings has already been sold to a local cardiologist for $10,000 - before the show even opened.
Abrishami was born in southern Iran and grew up in a city called Shiraz. He began painting at 14. Art soon consumed him and he decided to give his life over to it.
He moved to Perugia, Italy, in 1875, and spent five years pursuing his master's degree in fine arts at the Accademia Di Belle Arti, Pietro Vanucci.
He immigrated to the United States decades ago, and began painting alluring, romantic and sexual works.
He said he is inspired by "people, wherever I go."
"People dancing, people at a bar . . . when I see two lovers I get inspiration," said Abrishami, a soft-spoken man, by phone from California. "It's just people."
Often included in many of his paintings are white doves, pianos and guitars.
"The musical instruments are symbols of happiness and movement," he said. "And the dove is a symbol of freedom."
But he added, "People are not looking for the meaning of the symbols." He said they can "feel" the meaning of his paintings: love.
Do you like impressionistic art? If so, don't miss a show by Hessam Abrishami starting Saturday with a reception from 6 to 9 p.m. at Syd Entel Galleries, 247 Main St. in Safety Harbor. The exhibit runs until Nov. 12. The reception and show are open to the public. For information, call (727) 725-1808.
