NYAB Event - Stephanie Henderson "Break and Circuses" and Michael Mararian "Snow White"

Stephanie Henderson "Break and Circuses" and Michael Mararian "Snow White"

Last Rites Gallery

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Last Rites Gallery presents Stephanie Henderson and her collection of dark surrealistic art entitled “Bread & Circuses”. Stephanie’s work is meticulous and exquisite, with a dramatic element that draws the eye to intricate details and classic craftsmanship. Similar to other classic oil painters, Henderson uses dramatic illumination to create a multi-dimensional world of enigmatic beauty. With each delicate stroke of her brush, flowers bloom, bugs crawl, and objects erupt from their tenebrous backdrop emphasizing the intricate detail of each luminous entity. Using these techniques to combine realism with surrealism the artist creates a world of corporeal dreamscapes, giving the viewer a lucid glimpse into her boundless imagination.

Last Rites Gallery is also pleased to announce Michael Mararian and his collection entitled “Snow White”. Mararian reveals his technique as “hand drawn in various paint, dry-brush and ink forms, crudely scratched at times for a gritty, textured aesthetic. He is inspired by new and old journalistic-style photography, vintage graphics, cabinet cards, as well as retro advertisements and post mortem photography.”

Mararian clearly defines his intent as “touching upon such topics as gross consumerism, school violence, teenage disappointments, pressures and the slowly growing social isolation that are part of our childhood and adult culture. The use of contradiction is an integral part of my work to magnify the absurdity of any given situation and draw a conflicting reaction from the viewer.” What can, on one level, be construed as melancholy and cruel, can alternately be viewed as amusing, or even charming. Mararian enjoys letting his audience decide.