Waller-Yoblonsky Fine Art

Aaron Waller's sculptural assemblages offer a contemporary twist on "Junk Sculpture," a genre popularized by artists like Louise Nevelson and Deborah Butterfield who transformed found materials into art. While Nevelson used salvaged wood for her enigmatic abstractions and Butterfield crafted her early horse sculptures from scrap metal, Waller's approach is distinct. He “traffic’s in unwanted items,” blending finds from thrift stores, flea markets with remnants from his father's mountain retreat. Unlike Nevelson and Butterfield, who often duplicated subjects, Waller introduces a new 21st-century "artspeak" through surrealist assemblage sculptures. He intentionally unsettles the viewer by using visual elements out of context, coupled with stimulating titles. This method aligns with Surrealism's original focus on social attitudes and behavior, infused with modern symbolism. For example, his most recent work below, "Woman Looking Within, Outward,...

Diane Pierce is an acclaimed artist known for her stunningly lifelike bird paintings. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including the National Geographic Society's Bird Guide and Florida Butterfly Gardening. Her paintings are also on display in galleries and museums across the country. Pierce's love of birds began at a young age. She grew up in a rural area of Ohio, where she spent countless hours observing the birds in her backyard. This early fascination with birds led her to pursue a career in art. Pierce, who studied portrait painting at the Cleveland Institute of Arts and Western Reserve University, worked as a commercial artist before transitioning to full-time bird portraiture. Her detailed and lifelike portraits are based on photographs taken with a telephoto lens, as well as in-depth field studies of various bird species, including egrets, herons, cranes, gallinules, and hawks, in their natural habitats. Her artistic practice and ornithological resea...

The Genesis of the Exit Gallery: From Coat Closet to ASMSU Cultural Hub The summer of 1976 marked the unassuming beginning of what would become the Exit Gallery. Its initial incarnation was far from glamorous: a mere coat closet situated directly across the aisle from the grand Student Union Building Ballroom, known as the Strand Union Building, and conveniently located beside an outdoor exit. This humble two-door facility, equipped with large racks for coats and hats, served its purpose as a formal coat check, complete with a reciprocal numbered tag system. However, its utility had waned, and the space was rapidly evolving into what could be described as a "space dinosaur"—a relic of an era past. Years later, a significant renovation and expansion of the SUB in 2008 would alter its immediate proximity to the building's exit, but its legacy as the "Exit Gallery" endured. ASMSU's Diverse Committees and a Dormant Arts Program: Poetry Reading and Art Talk Annou...

From Bologna to the Vatican: The Legacy of a Prolific Italian Sculptor Manfrini, an Italian sculptor of considerable renown, left an indelible mark on the world of religious art and beyond. Born in Lugo, Italy, and meticulously trained at the prestigious Accademia di Bologna and the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera under the tutelage of Francesco Messina, Manfrini's artistic journey was one of dedication and mastery. His talent was such that he eventually succeeded his mentor as chair at the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera, a position he honorably held until 1984. His affiliations with the Accademia Clementina of Bologna and the Accademia di San Luca in Rome further cemented his standing within the Italian art world, as did his role on the Superior Council of the Ministry of Fine Arts during the Spadolini government. A Master of Diverse Mediums Manfrini’s prolific output spanned a remarkable array of mediums and commissions. His artistic versatility was evident in his designs for ...

Hubert, son of a fresco painter, began painting as a young boy, with a focus on scenes of Buffalo Bill and the Wild West. He studied at Cooper Union Institute, where he won the Wilson G. Hunt award, and at the Artist Student League in New York. He also studied with noted artists, such as Arthur Crispe (1881-1955), George Bridgeman (1864-1943), and Thomas Fogarty (1873-1938). Hubert enjoyed a distinguished career of over fifty years in both advertising art and fine arts. He was associated with the Studio of Halpert & Dane in New York City and illustrated for the agencies of Young & Rubicam, Cunningham Walsh, and Brook, Smith, French and Dorrence, with his work appearing in leading women's magazines.  His fine art blends graphic illustration with realism, emphasizing accuracy and detail to capture scenes from his life.  His paintings celebrate idyllic New England villages and the wider New York suburbs.    In the painting below: Hubert created a serene coastal ...

Rick Abrams, aka; Richard Martin Abrams, a noted regional artist known for his unique acrylic and mixed-media collage shadowboxes, left an indelible mark on the art world before his passing in 2024. Born in Miami Abrams pursued his passion for art throughout his life, creating visually stunning pieces that explored themes surrounding pop culture. Abrams's distinctive style involved applying paint with stencils and rollers/air brush/sponges to the back of clear acrylic glass, then floating this painted layer over a separate painting or digital collage on white styrene. This technique resulted in a vibrant, dimensional quality, allowing shapes, shadows, colors, and patterns to interact on different planes. He used his acrylic and mixed media collage shadowboxes to explore elements of mid-century pop culture. One of Abrams's primary goals as an artist was to create aesthetically pleasing art that resonated with viewers. His work often incorporated nostalgic and humorous references...