rest in color | Mash Gallery

Landscapes From The 5th Dimension

Ivo Vergara

70 X 65″

Oil Paint

Ivo Vergara’s work is a mesmerizing fusion of organic fluidity and structured abstraction, a dreamlike interplay of color, form, and movement. This particular piece transports viewers into a surreal landscape where the natural world and abstract geometry coexist in a delicate, harmonious balance.

The composition is a dynamic explosion of colors—fiery reds, deep blues, and golden yellows melt into soft pastels, creating an ethereal atmosphere that suggests both terrestrial and celestial realms. Vergara’s brushwork is both controlled and expressive, seamlessly blending elements that resemble cloud formations, coral reefs, and geological formations with geometric, almost architectural motifs. The intricate, layered details in the painting evoke a sense of depth and weightlessness, as though the forms are in constant motion, shifting between solidity and dissolution.

At the center of the composition, a series of interconnected abstract shapes, rendered in warm neutral tones, appear to emerge from or dissolve into the surrounding environment. These forms, reminiscent of fragmented sculptures or biomorphic figures, suggest transformation— perhaps a meditation on the intersection of humanity and nature, or the fluid boundaries between reality and imagination.

Vergara’s use of negative space is equally compelling, as the light blue sky-like voids give the piece an airy openness, allowing the viewer’s eye to travel freely across the composition. This interplay of density and emptiness heightens the painting’s surreal quality, as if the entire scene exists within a liminal space between dream and reality.

We Long To Kiss The Ground

Annie Darling

40×40″

Acrylic Paint

In “We Long to Kiss the Ground,” the artist orchestrates a symphony of color, texture, and atmospheric depth, inviting the viewer into a landscape that feels both ethereal and deeply rooted in the earth’s rhythms. With a masterful command of abstraction, the composition unfolds as a meditative study of space, light, and organic movement, blurring the lines between landscape painting and emotional experience.

The canvas is divided into distinct yet harmoniously interconnected planes. The upper register, rendered in a pale, textured expanse, suggests an infinite sky—a celestial weightlessness that contrasts beautifully with the richness of the terrain below. Just beneath it, a stark, almost calligraphic line of vertical forms emerges, reminiscent of distant trees or the skeletal remains of a forest consumed by time and memory. Their delicate yet assertive presence adds an element of quiet tension, a reminder of both resilience and fragility in the natural world.

The horizon line—marked by a striking band of cool turquoise—serves as both a boundary and a bridge, a liminal space that separates yet unites the celestial and terrestrial realms. Beneath it, the painting erupts into an opulent field of golden yellows, deep greens, and flickering bursts of vermilion and aqua, creating a sense of movement that mimics sun-drenched meadows swaying in a whispering breeze. The surface shimmers with layers of pigment, applied in a way that evokes both the organic randomness of nature and the meticulous structure of growth and decay.

Through a technique that feels both spontaneous and deliberate, the artist transforms texture into sensation, pigment into memory, and abstraction into a deeply personal dialogue with the land. The vertical drips and cascading patterns suggest a longing for connection—a pull toward the earth, toward grounding, toward something elemental and eternal.

Realization

Arthur Brouthers

24 x 23″

Acrylic, ink, spray paint & resin on wood

“Realization” is a fusion of photography and expressive abstraction, where the human figure transcends its physical form, becoming a canvas for metamorphosis and self-discovery. The subject’s poised yet introspective stance suggests a moment of profound revelation, her gaze lifted beyond the frame, as if perceiving a reality beyond the material world.

The artist masterfully disrupts the monochrome serenity of the portrait, introducing molten streaks of color and splattered pigments that course across the figure’s form. This dynamic interplay between controlled precision and unrestrained movement generates a palpable tension—a visual representation of identity dissolving, transforming, and evolving into something ethereal. The vibrant striations flowing across the subject’s body suggest a shedding of layers, an embrace of energy, and a state of transcendence.

Set against a deep black void, the luminous pigments appear almost cosmic, reinforcing the sense that the subject exists in a liminal space—part human, part dream, part raw emotion. The contrast between photographic realism and painterly abstraction heightens the work’s sensory and philosophical impact, inviting the viewer into an introspective journey of transformation and awakening.

While the composition exudes an undeniable sensuality, it transcends physical beauty, evolving into a meditation on consciousness, self-awareness, and the impermanence of form. The work’s interplay between presence and dissolution challenges the viewer to consider the fluidity of identity and the limitless potential of artistic fusion.

The Gambler

Odysseus Krum

55 x 67″

Oil on Canvas

In “The Gambler,” Odysseus Krum crafts a mesmerizing surrealist painting that blurs the boundaries between reality, illusion, and chance. This dynamic composition immerses the viewer in a symbolic exploration of risk, strategy, and the psychological tension between control and chaos, inviting interpretations that resonate with both the art world and philosophical thought.

At the core of this visually arresting surrealist artwork, an oversized, spectral hand clutches a cluster of billiard balls, their reflective surfaces glistening with potential energy and inevitable consequence. Detached from any visible figure, the hand becomes an allegory for manipulation, destiny, and the unseen forces that govern life’s unpredictable nature. This central motif immediately evokes themes of gambling, decision-making, and the fine line between mastery and luck.

Surrounding this focal point, abstract distortions of a billiard table dissolve into fluid, dreamlike forms. The traditional structure of the game is disrupted and warped, emphasizing the fragile nature of order and precision in a world dictated by randomness. A sharp, golden blade slicing through the upper quadrant introduces an ominous element, contrasting with the organic, textured decay of a disembodied hand below—perhaps symbolizing sacrifice, ambition, or the high stakes of risk-taking.

In the lower left quadrant, a circular frame encloses a veiled, ghostly figure, whose gaze is turned away from the turmoil. This spectral presence exudes a sense of contemplation, regret, or the existential weight of choices made and paths taken. The juxtaposition of bold, vibrant hues with spectral, ethereal tones heightens the painting’s psychological depth, reinforcing its exploration of fate, free will, and the human tendency to wager everything on the unknown.

Through Krum’s masterful use of surrealist abstraction, vivid color palettes, and symbolic distortion, “The Gambler” transcends mere artistic representation, evolving into a visual allegory for chance, consequence, and the intricate dance between destiny and self-determination. The painting’s compelling composition and rich thematic layers make it a powerful statement piece in contemporary surrealist art, resonating with collectors, art enthusiasts, and those drawn to the philosophy of risk and reward.

In the end, “The Gambler” does more than depict a game—it poses a question that lingers long after viewing: Are we the ones making the moves, or are we merely the pieces in someone else’s game?

Metallica ||

Haleh Mashian

84 x 168″

Mixed media on canvas

In “Metallica II”, Mashian transforms the natural world into a prismatic dreamscape, reimagining an ordinary forest as a surreal, otherworldly spectacle. The verticality of the trees, reminiscent of birch or aspen, is fractured by a kaleidoscopic spectrum of color, where luminous hues of emerald, amethyst, tangerine, and violet cascade like liquid light. Against a shimmering, silver-dusted background, the composition exudes a celestial radiance, existing in a space between the ethereal and the tangible.

The interplay of color and texture is striking—the metallic undertones lend a reflective, almost iridescent quality, making the landscape feel as if it is illuminated from within. The forest floor, dusted with subtle sparkle, enhances the sense of enchantment, evoking an untouched, almost sacred realm beyond time. The rhythmic repetition of slender trunks draws the eye upward, creating a sensation of endless depth and movement, as if the entire scene is in perpetual transformation.

More than a landscape, “Metallica II” is a meditation on perception, challenging the viewer to see beyond the familiar and into the extraordinary. By electrifying the natural world with an otherworldly palette, the artist invites a reexamination of what is real, what is imagined, and where the two converge. The result is a forest that pulses with energy, mystery, and an undeniable sense of transcendence, inviting the viewer to lose themselves in nature’s infinite vibrancy.

La Coquette

Haleh Mashian

60 x 60

Mixed media on canvas

A feverish symphony of color and texture, “La Coquette” blurs the line between figuration and abstraction, offering a vision that is both alluring and destabilizing. The seated female figure, barely discernible amid the frenetic brushwork, appears to emerge and dissolve simultaneously, her form interwoven with the fragmented layers of paint that envelop her. She is both present and ephemeral, a spectral presence caught between visibility and erasure.

The canvas pulses with movement, as each impasto stroke fuels an electric sense of restlessness. The explosive palette of reds, pinks, and blues creates a tension between desire, seduction, and the chaotic intensity of perception. Intentional distortions give the impression of an image refracted through the fractured lens of memory or emotion, resisting a fixed interpretation.

At its core, “La Coquette” challenges the viewer’s gaze, urging an engagement beyond the superficial. The figure’s partially obscured expression suggests an enigmatic interiority, defying the traditional passivity of the muse. Instead, she wields agency over her own image, her fragmented form mirroring the fluidity of self and the shifting nature of identity in a world of relentless aesthetic consumption.

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Riptide

Robert Standish

72 x 48

Acrylic on Canvas

Standish conjures a tropical seascape where color and motion converge in a restless, rhythmic dance. The oceanic mirage unfolds through a predominantly blue palette, evoking both depth and vitality. Vivid streaks of orange, purple, and pink slice through the cool expanse, disrupting its serenity like fleeting bursts of sunlight on turbulent waters. These luminous accents act as counterpoints to the blues, offering moments of visual respite—glimpses of warmth amid the shifting intensity of its ocean like surface.

Night Hike

Robert Sandich

36 x 25

Acrylic on Canvas

This piece captures the sensation of traversing a moonlit landscape where the natural world transforms under the glow of the night sky. Standish’s latest work presents a striking contrast between deep, saturated blues and jagged eruptions of vibrant color, echoing the way moonlight reveals the hidden vibrancy of the nocturnal wilderness. The composition is dense, layered, and restless, with fractured forms that appear to shift and recombine, much like the shifting shadows and fleeting glimmers of bioluminescent life.

The dominant navy and cobalt tones establish a heavy, immersive backdrop, reminiscent of the vast night sky stretching above a quiet trail. Streaks of red, green, pink, and orange disrupt the darkness like nature’s jewels catching the light—wildflowers glowing under the moon, distant city lights on the horizon, or the shimmer of unseen creatures stirring in the underbrush. Zigzagging patterns and abrupt shifts in tone create a sense of tension, as if the image is caught mid-transformation.

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Mindscape

30 inch diameter

Acrylic on canvas

2024

The circular composition, paired with a restrained color palette, creates a sense of continuity, where each hue, though muted, maintains a commanding presence. This approach highlights the artist’s skill in generating dynamic energy within a limited range of colors. The result is a piece that balances vibrancy with calm, using minimal tones to create an atmosphere that is both lively and serene. The painting demonstrates a careful control of energy, achieving a subtle yet compelling tension between movement and stillness.

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