April 14, 2012 – “Moments in Matter”, Solo Exhibition @ Alfa Art Gallery

Press Release:

Alfa Art Gallery is proud to present Moments in Matter: Vesselin Kourtev’s Recent Works. This collection encompasses three smaller bodies of work, all unique yet intimately unified by their impulse to seize fleeting moments in material form. With two groups of oils, the artist explores a more minimalist approach than he has in the past. He strives to reduce his overall mark making by maximizing his use of the palette knife. And, with fewer voices on the canvas, each resounds more confidently. His mixed media collages are more experimental in nature, and pay close attention to line, composition and representational imagery. All the while, Kourtev remains true to his roots by incorporating both narrative drawing and abstract expressionist painting techniques into the works.

Varying in theme and concentration, these oils and mixed media collages expand his body of work to areas previously unrevealed. This group appears especially organic with heavy references to traditionalist styles of the past. A formally taught artist himself, Kourtev is particularly inspired by the ideals of the Symbolist and the Arts and Crafts Movements of the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Join us on Friday, April 13 to celebrate this exciting debut of these never before seen works.

Vesselin Kourtev is the Founder, Director and current Artist in Residence at the Alfa Art Gallery. Originally from Bulgaria, he is recognized internationally as an oil painter with a truly unique style. He uses traditional, narrative drawing techniques paired with abstract-expressionist painterly qualities. His works pay homage to artists like Arnold Bocklin and Walter Crane, and incorporate gesture and story telling. Vesselin currently lives and works in New Brunswick, NJ, where he continues to find new inspirations for his work.