rest in color | Mash Gallery

Birdman

60″x60″

2024

Alkyd Enamel, Marker

“Birdman” by emerging artist Cash Christopher is a haunting yet magnetic example of contemporary figurative art, where psychological tension and symbolic abstraction collide on canvas. With clear roots in neo-expressionist painting, this mixed media portrait presents a distorted, almost alien figure whose exaggerated features vibrate with anxious energy and subconscious depth.

Set against a backdrop of electric blues, splashes of red, and erratic linework, the central face in “Birdman” is more than a portrait—it is a map of inner turmoil and surreal identity. The eyes, rendered in chaotic layers of color and collage-like mark-making, pull the viewer into a psychological labyrinth, where emotion is coded in every brushstroke. Graffiti-inspired elements, cryptic symbols, and a prominent red frown mark further charge the composition with undertones of urban surrealism and societal critique.

Cash’s use of raw texture, bold outlines, and distressed layering underscores his commitment to emotional portraiture—the kind that doesn’t aim for realism but for resonance. “Birdman” feels like a transmission from the subconscious, offering a complex reflection of self-perception in a fractured, hyperstimulated world.

In its execution and intent, “Birdman” captures the restless spirit of contemporary art today—unfiltered, urgent, and uncompromisingly honest.

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Rolling Surge

Haleh Mashian

40 x 60″

Mixed Media on Canvas

In “Rolling Surge”, Haleh Mashian captures the unrelenting force and hypnotic beauty of the sea, transforming the canvas into an electrifying display of movement, texture, and raw energy. The composition undulates with deep blues, iridescent greens, and shimmering silvers, pulsating with the fluid vitality of an ocean caught between turbulence and tranquility.

The textured surface mimics the dynamic crests and troughs of water, interacting with light in a way that evokes sunlit waves and the ever-changing nature of the sea. Metallic and pearlescent accents enhance the illusion of fluidity, making the painting appear as if it could spill beyond the edges of the canvas.

At the core of “Rolling Surge” is a compelling duality—a visual meditation on the ocean’s eternal cycle of creation and destruction. The waves, frozen in perpetual flux, symbolize the ceaseless rhythms of time, nature, and renewal. The painting immerses the viewer in an elemental experience, offering a visceral yet contemplative encounter with the raw power of water.

For collectors and admirers of contemporary abstract art, “Rolling Surge” is a striking embodiment of modern expressionism, texture-driven painting, and dynamic color interplay. This piece is a testament to Mashian’s masterful fusion of fine art and tactile energy, making it an ideal centerpiece for any luxury interior, high-end gallery, or modern art collection.

Moulin Rouge

Haleh Mashian

72 x 72″

Mixed Media on Canvas

Haleh Mashian’s “Moulin Rouge” is a bold and immersive composition that creates a hypnotic sense of movement and depth. Rendered in rich shades of crimson, magenta, and fiery orange, the trees appear both familiar and surreal, transforming a traditional woodland scene into a pulsating, dreamlike landscape.

Mashian’s signature layered textures and expressive brushwork infuse the painting with an almost tactile quality, as if the surface itself breathes with the energy of the forest. The interplay of light and shadow, achieved through subtle variations in tone and texture, evokes a dynamic atmosphere—at once fiery and mysterious.

The title “Moulin Rouge” suggests a connection to the vibrancy, passion, and theatricality of its namesake, reinforcing the idea that this is no ordinary forest, but one alive with drama and movement. The contrast between the warm, glowing hues of the trees and the dark, enigmatic background enhances the painting’s depth, drawing viewers into an otherworldly space where nature and abstraction collide.

For those drawn to contemporary art that merges bold color palettes, expressive abstraction, and a dynamic sense of movement, Moulin Rouge stands as a testament to Mashian’s ability to transform traditional landscapes into electrifying visual experiences. It is a piece that commands attention, making it an ideal focal point in any modern art collection, luxury interior, or high-end gallery setting.

Listening Within

Jason Jenn

40 X 30″

Mixed media on canvas, acrylic paint, colored pencil, watercolor, mud, natural roots, twine, glue, cardboard mache, glitter.

The composition is divided between two worlds—the upper realm, where a child rests peacefully against a sunlit field, and the subterranean domain, where a radiant, pulsating form resembling both a human heart and a growing root takes center stage. This juxtaposition symbolizes the hidden processes of growth, renewal, and internal awakening, reinforcing the idea that the most profound transformations occur beneath the surface, unseen yet inevitable.

Beneath the child, the earth is rendered with intricate layers of organic material—roots, worms, and sedimentary striations—creating a textured, almost sculptural presence. The heavy impasto and mixed-media approach enhance the depth and materiality of the underground, mirroring the complexity of personal and spiritual growth. Decay, renewal, and the cycles of life are intricately woven into the composition, reminding the viewer of nature’s constant evolution and its parallels to human development.

At the core of the subterranean world, a hand-like form emerges, glowing with an iridescent spectrum of colors, radiating from a deep red center. This vibrant energy contrasts sharply with the earthy surroundings, symbolizing awakening, inner vitality, and the anticipation of personal emergence. The dynamic interplay between the child above—symbolizing innocence, potential, and receptivity—and the rooted energy below—representing wisdom, resilience, and life’s unseen currents—creates a visual and conceptual tension that encourages contemplation.

Jenn’s masterful use of color, texture, and abstraction transcends mere representation, evoking an emotional response linked to memory, personal growth, and the cyclical rhythms of nature. The child’s posture—calm, attuned, and deeply connected to the earth—reinforces the idea that listening inward, to oneself and to nature, is the key to transformation.

Contemplation

Maico Camilo

30.91 × 26.38″

Oil on canvas

In “Contemplation”, the artist constructs a turbulent yet structured composition, where geometry and raw expression collide in a visceral dialogue between order and chaos, cognition and instinct. This abstract work pulsates with electric dynamism, as bold geometric structures intersect with expressive, gestural brushwork, evoking a sense of mental flux and restless introspection.

At the center, a colossal eye-like form looms within a swirling, multicolored vortex, its relentless gaze acting as both an anchor and an enigma. This central motif—encased in thick, black contours—seems to embody the very act of introspection itself, reinforcing the painting’s meditation on self-awareness, perception, and psychological depth.

Vivid contrasts between icy blues, fiery reds, and searing oranges carve out architectural planes, yet these rigid structures are continually disrupted by hurried, gestural marks—scratches of raw pigment and spontaneous strokes of texture. This interplay of control and chaos mirrors the nature of contemplation, where the mind oscillates between clarity and disarray, between structure and dissolution.

Hints of industrial motifs—coil-like spirals, fragmented scaffolding, and erratic circuitry—infuse the composition with an undercurrent of mechanized precision, suggesting a tension between organic thought and calculated design. The fragmented layering of these elements introduces a sense of erosion and reconstruction, as though ideas and perceptions are in a constant state of disintegration and renewal.

By blending the unrestrained emotion of Abstract Expressionism with the structured logic of Constructivist design, “Contemplation” becomes more than just an image—it is a psychological excavation, a restless interrogation of perception, consciousness, and the fluid nature of thought itself.

Tea For Two, Change For One

Keerthana Kumar

40 x 65″

Acrylic on Canvas

Keerthana Kumar’s mesmerizing composition “Tea For Two, Change For One” is a kaleidoscopic exploration of duality, perception, and constructed reality, where symmetry and symbolism converge in a meticulously orchestrated visual experience. Two identical female figures, rendered in vivid hues of electric blue, magenta, and gold, sit across from one another in an almost ritualistic exchange—one pouring tea, the other poised to receive. Their intensely stylized forms, with angular features and hyper-saturated skin tones, contrast against the rigid geometry of the background, creating a surreal tension between organic presence and structured space.

Set within what appears to be the luxurious interior of a train compartment, the background dissolves into a dizzying matrix of black, white, and blue geometric patterns, echoing the aesthetics of Op Art and Modernist design. The theatricality of the space is heightened by the meticulously placed symbolic elements—a resting cat, a golden tea set, a hovering bird with a key, and a vintage “Press for Tea” button—all suggesting a scene that transcends mere domesticity, hinting at hidden narratives of power, secrecy, and ritual.

Kumar’s masterful use of symmetry and reflection transforms the composition into an almost psychological study of self-perception. Are these figures twins, mirrored versions of the same self, or representations of internal dialogue? Their locked gazes and synchronized gestures suggest a conversation beyond language—one of power, identity, and self-exploration.

The artist’s sharp, hyper-stylized realism, combined with a bold contemporary color palette, places this work in dialogue with postmodern portraiture and contemporary surrealism. Kumar challenges the viewer to navigate the boundaries between reality and artifice, the familiar and the uncanny, creating a piece that is both aesthetically commanding and conceptually rich. Above all else, “Two For Tea, Change For One” is an invitation to decode a world of hidden symbols, layered narratives, and the interplay between structure and chaos.

Gorman Bloom

Thomas Piekunka

72 x 144

Blobs of paint.

“Gorman Bloom” is a vibrant, expressive celebration of nature’s dynamic energy, capturing the unrestrained beauty of wildflowers in full bloom. This painting conveys a deeper narrative about growth, impermanence, and the cycles of nature. It is both a celebration of the present moment and a meditation on the inevitability of change. The sheer scale and intensity of the work invite contemplation, urging the viewer to reflect on the boundless, ever-evolving energy of the natural world.

The painting explodes with rich hues of green, orange, yellow, and violet, creating a kaleidoscopic landscape that evokes the wild, untamed essence of a blooming meadow. The interplay of these colors, blending seamlessly yet chaotically, mirrors the randomness and harmony inherent in the natural world, reminiscent of abstract expressionism. The transitions of color shift across the canvas—from deep purples and fiery oranges to luminous golden yellows—suggesting changing light, shifting seasons, and the transient beauty of life itself. The artist’s layering technique creates a multidimensional quality, making colors appear to float, blend, and evolve, drawing the viewer deeper into the painting’s immersive field.

“Gorman Bloom” becomes an invitation to embrace the wild, unpredictable beauty of life, where chaos and harmony dance in unison, creating a symphony of color, movement, and transformation.

Tender in Red

Joanna Pilarczyk

39 × 39″

Oil and Acrylic on Canvas

In “Tender in Red,” the artist captures a moment of pure intimacy, where bodies entwine in an embrace that is both tender and urgent, vulnerable yet unwavering. The composition radiates heat and emotion, enveloping the viewer in a symphony of rich, saturated hues, where love is not only seen but felt through the dynamic interplay of color and form.

Through bold color blocking and gestural brushstrokes, the lovers’ forms emerge in fluid motion, their contours blurring the boundaries between physical and emotional immersion. Their faces, nestled together, convey an unspoken understanding, while the surrounding explosion of pattern and hue amplifies the depth of their surrender. The artist masterfully wields deep blues and fiery reds, crafting a visual contrast that underscores the interplay of passion and serenity, urgency and stillness.

Nature itself seems to fold around them, lush and unrestrained, reinforcing a sense of wholeness and unity between the figures and their environment. The painting sways between abstraction and figuration, suggesting movement, as if this embrace is not merely a moment in time but an eternal rhythm—a universal dance of love, trust, and connection.

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