“Truly, we live with mysteries too marvelous to be understood.
How grass can be nourishing in the mouths of the lambs.
How rivers and stones are forever in allegiance with gravity
While we ourselves dream of rising.…”
Mysteries, Yes by Mary Oliver
The Artillerie and Zephirin Giannetta Gallery are pleased to present in one gallery three exhibits that explore unique magical worlds as seen through the eyes of three international artists: Frantz Zéphirin, who was born and raised in Haiti; Aissulu Kadyrzhanova, who was born and raised in Kazakhstan; and Elena Drozdova, who was born and raised in Russia.
The ARTillerie and
Zephirin Giannetta Gallery
present
Frantz Zéphirin
Aissulu Kadyrzhanova
Elena Drozdova
June 6 - 29, 2024
Opening Reception: Friday, June 7, 5 - 8 p.m.
Zephirin Giannetta Gallery
38 West Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, PA 19003
Zephirin Giannetta Gallery
38 West Lancaster Ave., Ardmore, PA 19003
Hours:
Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays 11 am - 4 pm
Other days by appointment.
For appointments please contact:
Maria Kraybill
[email protected]
610-202-1833
or
Frank Giannetta
[email protected]
610-247-6720
Aissulu Kadyrzhanova is a Philadelphia-based artist, born in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Kadyrzhanova studied at Almaty Art College, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the renowned Surikov Institute of the Arts in Moscow, Russia, and received her MFA degree in Painting at Tyler School of Art, Temple University. A unique blend of experiences and education has made Kadyrzhanova a painter with an original point of view. In her work she combines the strong realist traditions of the Russian school of painting with the more conceptual and experimental approach to painting of the Western art world. Kadyrzhanova works and exhibits in Philadelphia, Moscow and Almaty.
Aissulu's current series of landscape paintings is inspired by Mary Oliver's poem "Mysteries, Yes,", and explores the profound beauty and enigmatic nature of oceans and mountains. Just as Oliver's words celebrate the mysteries that life holds, Aissulu's artwork aims to capture the ever-changing moods and limitless depths of these majestic natural elements. Through vibrant colors, dynamic brushstrokes, and the interplay of light and shadow, she seeks to evoke a sense of wonder and curiosity in the viewer. The magical landscapes symbolize the vast unknown, full of uncertainties and hidden wonders. By portraying these landscapes, Aissulu hopes to reflect the themes of Oliver's poem, encouraging an open-hearted acceptance of the unknown and a deeper connection with the natural world. Aissulu's work is a tribute to the endless questions that shape our existence and the breathtaking beauty found in not having all the answers.
Frantz Zéphirin is one of the most recognizable contemporary Haitian painters working today. Frantz is the winner of a gold medal in the Third Biennial of Caribbean and Central American Painting at the Museum of Modern Art in the Dominican Republic. He was one of five Haitian artists selected for the Fifth Cuenca Painting Biennial in Ecuador. Two of Frantz Zéphirin’s paintings toured the United States in the landmark exhibition “Sacred Arts of Haitian Vodou”, organized by UCLA’s Fowler Museum of Cultural History, with subsequent presentations in Miami, Chicago, Detroit, Washington, D.C., New Orleans and Baltimore. His work was shown by the American Visionary Art Museum in the “Holy H20” and “Home & Beast” exhibitions. In 2021, Frantz was included in the Haitian Masterworks exhibition at the Figge Art Museum in Davenport, Iowa, where his work is now a part of the museum's permanent collection. In 2022, two of his paintings were featured at La Biennale di Venezia, further cementing his status as a trailblazer in contemporary Haitian art.
Elena Drozdova, Artist, 2023, acrylic on canvas. Inquire
Frantz Zéphirin, La Vie en Haiti, 1995, acrylic on canvas. Inquire.
Elena Drozdova constructs her painted allegories using materials and methods that reveal her architectural background. Elena was born and raised in Moscow, Russia, and graduated from the prestigious Moscow Architectural Institute (MArchI) with a Bachelor’s of Architecture degree. At that institute, she acquired the refined skills of academic figurative drawing and later transformed her love for drawing into her unique painting style. Elena has lived and worked in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania for almost thirty years. During her first ten years in the United States, she worked as a painter in a stained glass studio whose commissions were from churches requiring large scale figurative paintings in various styles. For a number of years, Elena worked as an art director at the non-profit organization Peaceful Living, teaching art to people with disabilities. Since 2019, Elena has been a member of Artessa Art Alliance, an award-winning Philadelphia area alliance of women visual artists. Elena was an art resident at Cheltenham Center for the Arts in 2022-2023, and is a frequent exhibitor in the art center’s exhibitions.
Aissulu Kadyrzhanova, Mountain View by the Sea, 2022, oil on canvas. Inquire
THE ARTILLERIE
ART ADVISORY
Maria Kraybill of The Artillerie partners with art galleries & dealers, provides artist management and art advisory services to art collectors