There is a slight breeze in the air, people on the streets, new art on the walls, and music in my ears. Collectors, it seems the season is almost here.
However, the season is not the only thing I have been patiently awaiting. After weeks of anticipation, we have finally welcomed the newest works of Dutch - Russian couple Danielle Nengerman and Igor Levashov to the gallery.
Living and painting in Amsterdam, the couple shares a remarkable dedication to realism, each with a distinctly different artistic perspective.
Nengerman finds beauty in everyday objects. She transforms the familiar into exquisite studies of their unique light and presence. Levashov, on the other hand, is known for his large scale depictions of flowers, especially the White Parrot Tulip he fell in love with when he first moved to Amsterdam.
Igor Levashov
Last season, I barely had a week to enjoy Levashov's paintings in person. Every piece he sent us quickly found a loving home, and I am thrilled to finally have his work back in the gallery.
Particularly this new piece. A painting so unexpected from him. This newest arrival is bigger, brighter, and every bit as breathtaking.
Birds of Paradise Flowers by Igor Levashov, Oil on Canvas, 55.12 x 74.75 in
Not only is the Birds of Paradise Flowers absolutely stunning, it also marks a subtle departure from Levashov's familiar palette.
While he became known for his White Parrot Tulips and the pop of pink they sometimes yielded, orange is a color he has rarely explored. In fact, the artist had actually left this painting unfinished in his studio for eight years before finally returning to complete it this Summer.
And, if you believe the artist, he won't be painting anything quite like this again. At least, not anytime soon.
Orange is a particularly challenging color to work with, but here it plays beautifully against the purple petals, a detail I had only noticed upon viewing the painting in person.
With such a long history and a palette we may not see from Levashov again, I suspect this won't remain on our walls for very long. This is truly a remarkable statement piece.
Danielle Nengerman
While Igor finds inspiration in the grandeur of flowers, Danielle Nengerman has a rather different eye for beauty. Her newest arrivals are a wonderful example of this. Three toy pistols, each with its own personality, and a darling little blue pottery jar.
There is something wonderfully nostalgic about Danielle's newest paintings. For her, these childhood toys recall a time of innocence, when an ordinary object could become the center of an afternoon's imagination. I particularly love the pink pistol. Its playful color and transparent surface are captured with remarkable precision. And although the subject may bring back childhood memories, the skill required to paint it is anything but child's play.
Blue Vase by Danielle Nengerman, Oil on Canvas, 6.5 x 6.5 in
Then there is the little Blue Vase. Quiet, understated, and beautifully observed. It is quite a contrast to the pistols, yet both reveal Danielle's ability to find beauty in objects we might otherwise overlook.
So simple in its subject, yet somehow endlessly intriguing. Its soft blue glaze catches the light beautifully, revealing subtle variations in color and the gentle imperfections that give pottery its character.
What I find particularly special about this painting is how little it needs to capture your attention. There is no elaborate composition or dramatic setting, just a single object that speaks for itself. Of all the things one might choose to paint, a little blue vase seems so wonderfully unassuming. And yet, I find myself returning to it again and again.
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by Sadie E. Biegelsen and Emmalee K. Savigne