Agora Gallery is pleased to announce Close Encounters, a group exhibition running from March 1 to March 22, 2025. This dynamic collection brings together a diverse range of contemporary artists whose works explore the nuances of connection, shared experiences, and the ways we interact with our world - both fleeting and profound.
This curated collection features a kaleidoscope of perspectives and artistic techniques, including painting, sculpture, digital work, and mixed media. From abstract compositions to evocative figurative pieces, each work beckons a moment of pause, inviting viewers to engage in dialogue about identity, touch, and the beauty of crosscultural encounters.
Close Encounters
Fredi Cohen
Garese
Simonas Gelminauskis
Jane Johnson
Roger Liley
Lise Lykke
Christiane Palpant
Phoebe Ploom
Evan William Plunkett
Elena Salova
Morgane Soulier
Julie Reby Waas
Lihong Zhang
Fredi Cohen
Fredi Cohen’s non-traditional approach to sculptural art explores the potential for personal transformation and the creation of a life rooted in all of our deepest dreams. Influenced by the self-discovery and actualization encouraged by the Women’s Movement, Cohen’s art embraces the notion that we can shape our lives through intuition, choice, and the power of authentic creative expression. Her artistic journey into varied sculptural projects has enabled her to process emotions that her thoughts or words could not fully capture. For Cohen, each series and piece represents an emotional moment of introspection and a means of working through life’s challenges and gaining insight that helped shape her life’s decisions.
Cohen’s latest series, Visual Orchestra explores themes of harmony and societal healing. This body of work weaves together diverse materials and techniques: primarily sculpture, combined with painting, drawing, stained glass, and mixed media–to reflect her belief in the value of coexistence, and unity. By juxtaposing traditional methods with contemporary modes of creation, Cohen creates compositions that mirror the way varied perspectives can come together to form a cohesive whole. Visual Orchestra serves as a metaphor for the blending of differences, much like an orchestra combines disparate instruments to create a unified symphony. Through this series, Cohen invites viewers to engage in a visual dialogue about balance, peace, and the richness that emerges from embracing our collective diversity of ideas.
Sculpted Clay, polymer, ink drawing, various texture mediums, suminagashi, various paper surface design techniques
31” x 24” x 5”
Happy Dream Sonata, 2024
Glamorous, 2024 Mixed Media
33” x 24.5” x 3”
Still a Flower Child, 2024
Mixed media
17” x 21” x 2”
Happy World View, 2024
Mixed media
17” x 21” x 2”
Nature’s Curves, 2024
Sculpted raku clay, polymer, ink drawing, and paper design in a shadow box.
x 12” x 2”
12”
Organic Inspiration, 2024
Sculpted raku clay, polymer, ink drawing, and paper design in a shadow box.
12” x 12” x 2”
Open Windows, 2018
White clay
40” x 40” x 3.5”
Born Out of the Box, 2018
White ceramic clay
60” x 60” x 3.5”
Flowing Zone, 2024
Sculpted raku clay, polymer, ink drawing, and paper design in a shadow box.
x 12” x 2”
12”
Woman Reading, 1990
Bonded carrera
25” x 12” x 12”
Woman Child, 1988
Bonded carrera
12” x 15” x 12”
Open to Say Yes, 2024
Sculpted Clay
17” x 17” x 3.5”
Peacock Flirt, 2024
Stoneware ceramic clay, wood & stained glass
26” x 45” x 3.5”
Fave Peacock with Stained Glass, 2020
ceramic clay, wood & stained glass
Stoneware
35” x 35” x 3”
Peacock Posing, 2020
Stoneware ceramic clay, wood & stained glass
30” x 32” x 1”
ceramic clay, wood & stained glass
15 x 18 x 1
Rocking Horse Peacock, 2020
Stoneware
Swinging Peacock, 2020
Stoneware ceramic clay, wood & stained glass
17” x 20” x 1”
Running Peacock, 2020
Stoneware ceramic clay, wood & stained glass
20” x 20” x 1”
Garese
French painter Garese is a traditionally trained artist with an impressive background and education in the fine arts. She studied at Les Beaux-arts de Bordeaux, then at ICART in Paris. She trained in both the traditional and decorative arts, which gives her the unique ability to draw in techniques from both disciplines. The combination of these two different approaches to art can be seen in her elegant handling of light and color to model the subjects of her paintings. Her work is a coherent thread between the world of today and the previous world, and could most aptly be described as “timeless.”
Working exclusively in oil on linen, Garese creates paintings featuring portraiture, landscapes, and still-life work. She sources inspiration from the Old Masters, and specifically the artists John Singer Sargent, Henri Fantin-Latour, Joaquin Sorolla, and Gustav Klimt, as well as American Cinema from the 1950’s and 1960’s. She employs painting techniques from historical traditions among the decorative arts, including trompe l’oeil and other decorative techniques. She skillfully juxtaposes these historical techniques with abstract elements, resulting in visually captivating and uniquely contemporary pieces. In doing this, she endeavors to bring new eyes to discover novel aspects of art and the world, which are too often forgotten among contemporary works today. Her portraits are archetypal, the light is delicate, and the costumes are very detailed. In the same vein, her still lifes and landscapes capture a serenity that is intended to contrast the fast paced, overcrowded world of today.
Reflection #2, 2023
Oil on canvas
27.5” x 27.5”
Transparency #2, 2023
Oil on canvas
23.5” x 23.5”
Transparency #3, 2024
Oil on canvas
32” x 32”
Woman Profile #4, 2021
Oil on canvas
19.5” x 19.5”
Simonas Gelminauskis
Simonas Gelminauskis is a Lithuanian painter and sculptor whose journey seamlessly blends fine arts and economics.
A graduate of the Vilnius Academy of Arts, he earned a bachelor’s degree in sculpture while honing his skills in painting and drawing under expert mentorship.
Gelminauskis has exhibited extensively in Lithuania and abroad, with notable solo shows such as With Love From Paris (2024) and Crossroads (2020). His return to painting in 2013, following a 23-year hiatus, marked a turning point in his artistic journey.
This transformative period was featured by Lynx Art Magazine in 2020, highlighting the challenges and triumphs of restarting an art career and redefining his role in contemporary art.
Between 2008 and 2011, Gelminauskis traveled the world, an experience that profoundly influenced his personal and artistic perspectives.
These travels enriched the themes and narratives in his work, captivating audiences with his ability to weave life’s complexities into his art.
His portfolio features group exhibitions at major art fairs such as Art Shopping at the Carrousel du Louvre, Paris in 2019 as well as Art Vilnius and Art Kaunas in Lithuania in 2019 and 2024, respectively.
From 2020 to 2023, he founded and curated Mono Gallery in Vilnius, further solidifying his role in the Lithuanian art scene.
As a member of the Lithuanian Artists’ Association, Gelminauskis has also made significant contributions to charity, supporting causes like Ukrainian orphanages and animal welfare.
In 2023, he completed a prestigious artist residency at Cité Internationale des Arts in Paris, cementing his place as a global voice in contemporary art.
Autumn in Marais: The Parisian Urban Pulse, 2023
Acrylic painting on linen Canvas
57” x 44.5”
Late
Night Jazz Groove Of N.Y., 2024
Acrylic painting on linen Canvas
35” x 31.5”
N.Y. Urban Pulse: Red Passion, 2024
Acrylic painting on linen Canvas
35” x 31.5”
Yellow Nostalgy, Autumn In Marais, Paris, 2023
Acrylic painting on linen Canvas
63.5” x 51”
Jane Johnson
Acclaimed artist Jane Johnson, whose career spans over six decades, continues to captivate audiences with her vivid, color-rich landscapes and imaginative abstractions. Born in the United States, Johnson’s educational journey led her to Briarcliff College, Rollins College, and private study with Henry Gorski in New Haven, CT, followed by coursework at the Corcoran School of Art. Her work, influenced by travels around the world and the serenity of nature, has evolved into a distinctive style that celebrates color, texture, and the interplay between shapes and space.
Johnson’s art is deeply rooted in her love for the landscape, particularly the Italian Cypress trees and gardens she first encountered during her travels to Europe. With a foundation in both figurative and abstract traditions, her work is often compared to the likes of Cezanne, Matisse, and Milton Avery. Emphasizing “magical realism,” she seeks to create paintings that surprise and delight, inviting viewers to explore the nuances of color and form.
Johnson has exhibited widely over her illustrious career, from New York City to Washington, DC and the Hamptons. Her work is in notable private and public collections, including the Arts in Embassies Program, and she has generously supported nonprofit organizations such as LongHouse Reserve and Women’s Arts of the Hamptons.
Now at 81, Johnson continues to explore new mediums, from oil and acrylics to beading, and remains committed to creating art that speaks to the soul.
#120 Places, 2003
Oil on canvas
42” x 48”
#162 Three Mile Harbor, 2006
Oil on wood panel
20” x 22”
#206 Polyphony, 2009 Oil on wood panel
20” x 22”
Roger Liley
Roger Liley, a fine artist from the UK, focuses on capturing the positive inner spirit of his subjects. His work ranges from portraits of celebrities and politicians to family and friends, combining precision with a touch of spontaneity. He finds the extraordinary in the every day through his work.
A graduate of Staffordshire’s esteemed art schools with a first-class honors degree in Graphic Design and Fine Art, Liley creates vibrant portraits and figurative pieces that capture the essence of his subjects.
His process is structured and intuitive - drawing on techniques like the “rule of thirds” and grid-based composition while embracing moments of “uncontrolled chaos” by throwing paint and letting go, allowing each piece to evolve organically.
Inspired by David Hockney’s figurative style and the vibrant cultures of London, California, and New York, Liley combines acrylic, water-mixable oils, and graphite for bold, detailed works.
His art, celebrating the joy of modern life, has been featured in exhibitions like Art San Diego, Red Dot Miami, and Art Expo New York, with notable acquisitions by Soho House.
After Edward Hopper, 2021
Giclee print on Hahnemühle 308gsm smooth white rag paper 4” x 5”
Chrysler, 2022
Giclee print on Hahnemühle 308gsm smooth white rag paper
36” x 24”
Empire, 2025
Acrylic on wood panel
48” x 24”
Nice, 2021
Giclee print on Hahnemühle 308gsm smooth white rag paper 16” x
12”
Portrait New York, 2022
Mixed media on wood panel 24” x 12”
Lise Lykke
Artist Lise Lykke fills her frames with large, confounding faces. She slaps, drips, and smacks the paint against the paper, giving herself the freedom to explore a range of possibilities throughout the creative process. From nervous lovers to an eerie stranger, Lykke unleashes a mixed bag of emotions as she brings these mysterious figures to life.
Lykke uses domestic objects like spatulas, brooms and sponges to mix the paint on the canvas. Forming a direct, instinctual relationship with the work, Lykke investigates the emotional depths of the human experience.
Another
Day At The Office, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
39.5” x 55”
Best Friends, 2024
Acrylic color on canvas
31.5” x 23.5”
Facetime, 2024
Acrylic color on canvas
31.5” x 23.5”
From Another Planet, 2024
Acrylic color on canvas
23.5” x 31.5”
Picnic Time, 2024
Acrylic on canvas
39.5” x 55”
Christiane Palpant
Christiane Palpant is an American artist living and working in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the daughter of award winning portrait artist Gail Palpant, who has passed on the artistic skill and tradition of oil painting to her daughter. From her mother, Christiane learned her strong sense of color, and formed her first ideas of communicating through the artistic medium. Christiane’s work features abstract horizons and landscapes in which she uses dramatic and bold colors, to create psychologically and aesthetically engaging oil works on canvas.
The immediate spectrum of color that Palpant employs shows her strong understanding and grasp on the medium. She pushes her style by incorporating one or more ambiguous light sources and perspective, which allow each piece to open itself up more with each viewing. Palpant draws from her experience with a recent health condition, after which she picked up her paintbrush with “prolific intention,” to create works that inspire inner calm and a sense of hope. Every bit of her journey is felt in each unique brushstroke.
Amber Waves New Growth, 2025 Oil on canvas
36” x 36”
Awakening The Soul, 2025
Acrylic and oil on canvas 24” x 48”
Chasing Light Finding Peace, 2025
Acrylic on canvas
24” x 48”
Colors Of Tomorrow, 2025 Oil on canvas
20” x 20”
First Light Second Chances, 2025
Oil on canvas
40” x 30”
Phoebe Ploom
Phoebe Ploom, an African American artist and registered nurse, creates powerful artwork that honors the legacy of African American slavery and celebrates the resilience of Black Americans.
Born in Philadelphia and raised in New Jersey, Ploom began painting seriously in 2011, after completing a master’s in nursing education at Saint Joseph College of Maine.
Using acrylics, oils, and mixed media like fabric and paper, Ploom’s work explores themes of history, heritage, and social justice.
She focuses on depicting the struggles of African American slaves and Black Americans, using vibrant colors and figures to highlight pain and strength.
Inspired by artists such as Picasso, Basquiat, and Bill Traylor, Ploom blends folk art traditions with contemporary expression. As a woman of color, her artwork advocates for racial equality and keeps vital conversations about slavery and racism in the forefront.
Clara, 2017
Acrylic on canvas with mixed media (print and paper) 19” x 14”
Enslaved Labor, 2020
Acrylic on canvas with mixed media (print and paper) 24” x 36”
Laundry Day, 2020
Acrylic on canvas with mixed media (print and paper) 24” x 32”
Evan William Plunkett
A deserted highway in the middle of the night, a neon sign in the distance; ghostly figures on the sidewalk, empty corridors, rusty old Cadillacs lying in the woods. Evan William Plunkett’s photographs could be set almost anywhere and anytime. Eerily, they evoke stories, voices, and people who once inhabited these often half-desolate spaces. Plunkett gathers material locally and during his travels, capturing cultural themes and symbolic objects and settings. Much of the atmospheric quality of Plunkett’s photography is achieved through a combination of long-exposure techniques and intentional camera movement, forging a style that Plunkett describes as “photo impressionism.” Inspired by films, Plunkett develops a sense of narrative flow, creating scenes “to illustrate the fluidity and essence of the perpetual movement of time.” His photographs offer a unique perspective on the nature of reality, as seen through the eyes of a millennial facing the complexities and challenges of today and the future.
Currently residing in Putney, Vermont, Plunkett grew up in New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas, and Massachusetts and completed his studies in Political Science at the University of Miami. His work has appeared in many juried exhibitions and publications. Notably, his photography was featured on the cover of Shots Magazine and he received the Peoples’ Choice Award in Black and White Magazine, among other accolades. Plunkett has published three photography monographs. Plunkett is a social justice and environmental advocate and sits on the Board of Directors of The Doris Wilderness Foundation, Inc., an organization committed to helping preserve neotropical rainforest.”
Abandon, 2024 Metal print 36” x 24”
Pace, 2024
Metal print
36” x 24”
2024
Storm,
Metal print 36” x 24”
Swath, 2024
Metal print
36” x 24”
Wait, 2024 Metal print 36” x 24”
Weave, 2024
Metal print
36” x 24”
Elena Salova
Elena Salova is a Ukrainian artist living in Seville, Spain, whose work reflects on the themes of resilience and spiritual communion within her art. Fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, she discovered solace and meaning through her commitment to art and the practice of yoga.
Salova’s paintings focus on exploring the unseen, emphasizing intuition, dreams, and the subconscious. She describes her creative process as guided by a universal, infinite energy that flows through her. Inspired by her late husband, Andrew Salova, master artist, Salova learned classical techniques that she integrated with her unique style.
Driven by a vision, Salova traveled to Spain with just her determination and creative spirit. Her artwork, showcased in galleries across Ukraine, Russia, and Spain, skillfully explores the contrasts of existence and resilience. She believes her creations go beyond the physical world, encouraging an introspective dialogue with one’s inner self. As Salova travels the world, she continually finds inspiration in her journeys and her unwavering dedication to spiritual growth.
Amalgamation, 2024
Oil, acrylic on linen canvas
63” x 51.5”
Creation, 2023 Oil, acrylic on canvas
21” x 21”
Green Dream, 2023 Oil, acrylic on canvas
19.5” x 19.5”
Open Heart, 2023 Oil, acrylic on canvas
19.5” x 19.5”
Unveiled Emotion, 2023 Oil, acrylic on canvas
31.5” x 31.5”
Visioneer Pegasus, 2024 Oil, acrylic on linen canvas
63” x 51.5”
Wild, 2022 Oil, acrylic on canvas 24” x 24”
Morgane Soulier
Morgane Soulier is a French artist, consultant, speaker, and author, who also happens to be a multi-entrepreneur. She helps leaders navigate the fast-changing digital world. Her career blends different interests like innovation, technology, and art. With experience at big companies like Orange and contributing to Netflix’s strategic direction, she gained valuable insights into how technology transforms industries. This inspired her to start her venture to help managers integrate digital progress into their strategies.
Soulier’s interest in artificial intelligence (AI) stems from exploring how technology enhances creativity. She uses generative AI to explore new artistic possibilities and create digital art. For her, AI is not just about automation but is a creative partner. Soulier collaborates carefully with AI, providing instructions and refining images to match her vision. This human-machine blend is key to her art, pushing contemporary art’s limits and offering new perspectives.
Her achievements include exhibitions in Paris, Lyon, and New York City, along with features in top galleries. Through her work, she encourages viewers to see AI as a creative partner in today’s digital art scene.
Artificial intelligence digital art, printed on Hahnemühle fine art paper, mounted on Alu-Dibond 24” x 24”
Cotton Girl, 2024
Floral Escape, 2024
Artificial intelligence digital art, printed on Hahnemühle fine art paper, mounted on Alu-Dibond 24” x 24”
I Am Not Real
Artificial intelligence digital art, printed on Hahnemühle fine art paper, mounted on Alu-Dibond 36” x 36”
Artificial intelligence digital art, printed on Hahnemühle fine art paper, mounted on Alu-Dibond 14” x 14”
Malibu Bites, 2024
Mexico Bites, 2024
Artificial intelligence digital art, printed on Hahnemühle fine art paper, mounted on Alu-Dibond 14” x 14”
Miami Bites #1, 2024
Artificial intelligence digital art, printed on Hahnemühle fine art paper, mounted on Alu-Dibond 14” x 14”
Artificial intelligence digital art, printed on Hahnemühle fine art paper, mounted on Alu-Dibond 14” x 14”
New York Bites #1
Still Standing
Artificial intelligence digital art, printed on Hahnemühle fine art paper, mounted on Alu-Dibond 36” x 36”
Sweet Escape, 2024
Artificial intelligence digital art, printed on Hahnemühle fine art paper, mounted on Alu-Dibond 24” x 24”
Sweet Swing, 2024
Artificial intelligence digital art, printed on Hahnemühle fine art paper, mounted on Alu-Dibond 24” x 24”
Julie Reby Waas
Julie Reby Waas has been creating abstract drawings for as long as she can remember. It was only during the isolating, stressful time of the Coronavirus pandemic, however, that Waas began turning her original designs into artwork. Seeking to bring joy to herself and others, Waas uses bright colors and compelling patterns to evoke spontaneous reactions. Her geometric shapes and motifs serve as a way to bring order to her sometimes disordered life, and Waas identifies three recurring symbols in her work: vines, Venn diagrams, and jigsaw puzzle-like designs. This philosophy remains at the core of her newest series of paintings. Inspired by the six sides of the Rubik’s Cube, the pieces evoke the harmonious simplicity of Piet Mondrian’s designs, with neatly arranged blocks of primary colors. To her, these shapes represent friendship, connection, common ground, and fragments coming together to create a bigger picture, which all relate to Waas’s belief that everything and everyone is interrelated in some way, and when we come together in friendship and strength we create a beautiful tapestry.
In addition to creating art, Julie Reby Waas works as a labor and employment lawyer at Baptist Health South Florida. She exhibits her work in galleries in New York, London, Miami, Innsbruck, and Madrid, drawing inspiration from artists like Piet Mondrian and Joan Miró. Her most profound influence is her autistic son, Jonathan, whose bold and unique style as a child inspires her work. Waas’s art aims to bring happiness and enthusiasm to her viewers.
Jigsaw, 2022
Watercolor & acrylic on paper
19” x 16”
Parallel Lives, 2023
Acrylic on stretched canvas 24” x 24”
Square Pegs in Round Holes, 2021
Watercolor & acrylic on paper
14.5” x 17.5”
Venn on the Vine, 2021
Watercolor & acrylic on paper
14.5” x 17.5”
Lihong Zhang
Lihong Zhang was born in China and now resides in Melbourne, Australia, where she works as a full-time painter. Even at a young age, Zhang’s knack for painting was clear; her school chose her to study art at the Beijing Youth Palace. Nowadays, Zhang indulges her preference for Impressionism by visiting museums and reading about art history, and by channeling her study of it into her natural scenes. The influence of Impressionism is made manifest in Zhang’s ability to capture a calm, fleeting moment of the natural world. Her work has been said to foster a cross-cultural exchange between Western and Eastern cultures, which Zhang actively creates by melding her Impressionist influences with ancient Eastern philosophy and Chinese calligraphy.
Zhang’s main inspiration comes from music, dance, and nature. She is especially fascinated with the lotus flower, which stems from a story about the lotus’s beauty, “Pond in the Moon Night,” which she read while she was still in school. The story was made real for Zhang when she and her classmates visited the lotus pond in Beijing’s Beihai Park. Living in Australia, Zhang has still managed to find the lotus in her surroundings by visiting Melbourne’s lotus garden. This recurring motif, combined with the stillness and clarity of her work, communicates the message of harmony and peace in a noisy, busy world. Zhang has exhibited all over Australia, belongs to the Victorian Artists Society, and has been published in Art Edit magazine in both 2018 and 2020. In 2022 Zhang exhibited at Agora Gallery in New York, Stefania Carrozzini Gallery in Venice, Camden Image Gallery in London, Libby Edwards Galleries in Melbourne, and Red Dot Miami in Miami.
The Lotus Series No. 22, 2021 Print on fine art paper
40” x 40”
Lotus Series No. 42, 2023 Print on fine art paper
The
39.5” x 39.5”
The Lotus Series No. 58, 2024 Print on fine art paper
39.5” x 39.5”
Gallery hopping in New York
Agora Gallery is located within the heart of the Chelsea Arts District with available hours from Tuesday – Saturday 11 am - 6 pm.
Opening receptions are held once a month, giving you the opportunity to meet the artists and view a variety of original artwork. Visit our website and subscribe to our mailing list to stay up to date on all events and happenings – www.Agora-Gallery.com/mailinglist
