The Curve

“The Curve” by Haleh Mashian is a dynamic and sensual exploration of movement, form, and abstraction. The female figure, caught in a dramatic arch, exudes both strength and vulnerability, her facelessness adding an air of mystery. With hands tangled in her hair, she is a study in self-possession, yet her identity remains fluid—open to interpretation, shaped by the viewer’s perception.

Mashian’s brushwork is raw and expressive, layering thick impasto strokes that give the painting a tactile, almost sculptural presence. Her use of color electrifies the composition—flesh tones are fractured into streaks of yellow, deep shadows, and flashes of crimson, suggesting energy pulsing beneath the surface.

“The Curve” evokes the psychological intensity of Egon Schiele and the sensuous distortions of Francis Bacon, yet Mashian’s approach is distinctly her own—layered with emotion, complexity, and an undeniable presence. This piece delves into the deeper curves of human experience, leaving the viewer captivated by the interplay of movement, energy, and the unspoken narratives hidden within the form.

About the Artist

As a painter and creative expressionist, Mashian’s abstract works reveal her appreciation of color theory, compositional form, and studying positive and negative space. Working in mixed media and using various techniques from collage to impasto, a repeated layering and application of paint, Mashian’s dynamic pieces range from smaller artworks that can be arranged together to large-scale paintings. Her large-paneled paintings have been exhibited nationally in Los Angeles, Miami, and are included in private collections in the United States and abroad.