THE HUMAN CONDITION Curated by Steven DaLuz
7959 Broadway Street, Suite 202 San Antonio, TX 78209 Opening Reception November 5, 2020 from 5 to 7:00 PM
THE HUMAN CONDITION Curated by Steven DaLuz PARTICIPATING ARTISTS Alexandra Manukyan Amy Gibson Anna Wypych Austin Uzor Brianna Lee Francien Krieg John Rowe Marc Duquette Marianna Foster Nare Karapetyan Patricia Schappler Samuel Wilson Sebastian Sandu Stephanie Deshpande Victor Wang Zack Zdrale
THE PREMISE What is “the human condition”? he Oxford Living Dictionary deines it as, “the state or condition of being human, especially regarded as being inherently problematic or lawed.” this deinition goes back to the mid 16th Century, found in John Alday as early as 15661579. According to Wikipedia, the human condition is “the characteristics, key events, and situations which compose the essentials of human existence, such as birth, growth, emotionality, aspiration, conlict, and mortality. his is a very broad topic which has been and continues to be pondered and analyzed from many perspectives, including those of religion, philosophy, art, literature, anthropology, psychology, and biology. As a literary term, ‘the human condition’ is typically used in the context of ambiguous subjects such as the meaning of life or moral concerns.” It seems we humans are in a predicament, spawned from our inability to understand our state of “imperfection”. Some philosophers pose that this arises from the premise of “good and evil” in our nature. We humans are capable of horriic acts, such as murder, torture, rape, etc. We are aggressive and selish, yet we can be cooperative, selless and loving. We struggle with this incongruent state of being, which produces feelings of guilt within us. Our behavior goes beyond instinct, having psychological facet that involves our conscious, sentient minds. We are egocentric, deceitful, arrogant, jealous, mean, insincere, immoral, etc. Our imperfection is not driven by animal instinct; rather, it is derived from our conscious, human minds. We are lawed beings, and it bothers us greatly. Despite the negative aspects of our being, we also possess a moral conscience, imbued with a caring sense of unconditional altruism and the capacity for kindness and love. he struggle we face creates a dilemma within us, often causing us to deny our human condition. It is something we often shy away from, as it is at the root of so much misery in the world. Yet, it can be the source of so much good. Our human condition is a state of imperfection. he subject for this theme is vast, which gives artists a very wide latitude in creating their expressions of the human condition. Each artist is asked to ponder and explore aspects of the theme that appeals to them and challenges their sensibility. I ask that the work focuses upon the human igure within the context of the theme. — Steven DaLuz Curator, he Human Condition
Alexandra Manukyan | Drift | oil on linen | 36 x 36 | 2020
Amy Gibson | Why Don’t They Believe Me | oil on wood panel |14 x 11 | 2020
Anna Wypych | Too Sweet To Be Serious | oil on canvas | 39 x 27 | 2017
Austin Uzor | Still Here | oil on canvas | 21 x 24 | 2020
Brianna Lee | The Calling (left panel) | oil on panel | 20 x 16 | 2019
Brianna Lee | The Calling (right panel) | oil on panel | 20 x 16 | 2019
Francien Krieg | Midnight Blue | oil on canvas | 31 x 24 | 2020
John Rowe | Crushed Blossom | oil on canvas | 30 x 60 | 2019
Marc Duquette | Cheating At Solitaire | oil on canvas on panel | 22 x 23 | 2018
Marianna Foster | Midsummer Colors Daydream | oil on canvas | 24 x 30 | 2020
Nare Karapetyan | Reincarnation | oil on linen | 47 x 32 | 2019
Patricia Schappler | City of Taras | oil and collage on cradled board | 48 x 46 | 2020
Samuel Wilson | Held In Balance | oil on canvas | 35 x 30 | 2019
Sebastian Sandu | Daniel | oil on canvas | 30 x 30 | 2020
Stephanie Deshpande | Conversations | oil on linen | 30 x 24 | 2019
Victor Wang | The Whisperer | oil on canvas | 60 x 48 | 2020
Zack Zdrale | Arrows | oil on panel | 25 x 32 | 2020
Steven DaLuz (b. 1953) is known for igurative works
by Arundel Contemporary in West Sussex, England.
and imagined landscapes, using both encaustic, and a process he devised with metal leaf, oil, and mixed me-
Marc Duquette is a contemporary igurative painter
dia. More recently, he has begun experimenting with
who works primarily in oils. He was born outside Ni-
acrylic inks. Born in Hanford, California, Steve retired
agara Falls and currently lives and works in Buffalo, NY.
from the Air Force after living 14 years abroad. He com-
Marc earned a BA, Art from Buffalo State College in
pleted a BA degree in Social Psychology, and an MA
2002 and continued to study through workshops and
degree in Management, before earning a BFA in 2003.
on his own for the next several years. He started train-
Identiied as a “contemporary Luminist” in Wikipedia,
ing in the academic tradition at the Academy of Realist
his work is in private and corporate collections in 36
Art in Toronto, ON in 2010. Traveling several times a
States and overseas. He has exhibited internationally,
month to Toronto, Marc studied drawing and painting
and has been published in art books, and magazines,
part time at the Academy for the next 7 years. Since
such as Art in America, American Art Collector, Fine Art
then he has been included in numerous local, national,
Connoisseur, The Hufington Post, Encaustic Art, Pro-
and international shows, including Painting the Figure
fessional Artist, the International Drawing Annual, and
Now, ARC International Salon (inalist), and Figuratively
The Artists. He is a frequent guest curator for Poets Art-
Speaking at the Salmagundi Club NYC.
ists magazine. A inalist for the 2015 Hunting Art Prize, Best of Show in the Bold Brush painting competition in
Marianna Foster was born and educated in Ukraine,
2018, and listed in Buzzfeed’s “100 Figurative Oil Paint-
relocating to Phoenix, Arizona in 2012. In the Ukraine
ers Working Right Now (2020), DaLuz is represented
she was classically trained, graduating from the Nation-
by AnArte Gallery in San Antonio, Texas.
al Institute of Fine Arts and Architecture in Kiev with a Master of Arts degree. During her early professional
Stephanie Deshpande (b. 1975) is a representational
life, Marianna took a short detour into art direction, de-
painter living in northern New Jersey. She is best known
sign, and photography. She now focuses on bringing
for her psychological portraits and narrative paintings.
out her own photographic vision into paintings and
Her work combines her love of realism with personal
drawings. Her inspiration centers on igures and water.
allegories. Deshpande graduated from the University
Primarily she uses classical techniques to represent the
of Massachusetts at Amherst with a BFA in Painting and
modern world. Her works are in private and corporate
continued her studies at the New York Academy of Art
collections in the USA, Japan, Turkey, Panama, Poland,
earning her MFA. She was awarded the Ellen Battell
Greece, Czech Republic and Ukraine.
Stoeckel Fellowship to attend the Yale Summer School of Music and Art and has received recognition for her
Amy Gibson grew up in Alliance, Ohio. She received
paintings by the Portrait Society of America, RayMar Art,
her BFA in 1999 from the University of Akron with a fo-
Artist’s Magazine, the Art Renewal Center, Allied Artists
cus on painting. After college, she shifted her interest
of America, and Oil Painters of America. Her paintings
from abstraction and became focused on the methods
have appeared in several issues of PoetsArtists and in
and practices of traditional realism. Her work focuses
the book 21st Century Figurative Art: The Resurrection
on post contemporary portraiture. She currently lives
of Art by Jan Esmann. In 2014, the New Britain Muse-
Wilmington, North Carolina.
um of American Art acquired her painting “Assembling the Pieces” for their Post Contemporary collection. She
Viktoria Nare Karapetyan is an emerging artist who
is represented by Haynes Galleries in the U.S. and
endeavors to capture (in her realistic works) the condi-
tion of being human, deepening moods and concepts
she portrays are often inspired by the rural environ-
between the dilemma of uncertainty in the presence of
ment she grew up in, in the Central Valley of California.
the unknown, or the concerning fear of what happens afterlife. Viktoria wonders over these matters constant-
Alexandra Manukyan works in various series which
ly, and as an artist she feels compelled to guide the
cover different themes, issues, and concepts, but the
viewer over those intimate relections. However she
central theme which unites all of her paintings is the
does not reveal a truth, because she believes the truth
human connection. The paintings examines what
is improbable. She simply tries to converse with the
seems to be separate and isolated life experiences
viewer about these matters, generating a mirror effect
and examines the connections and impact on cultures
between her art and the observer; sort like a symbolic
hidden in each work.
way of uniication John Rowe received his training at Art Center ColFrancien Krieg was born in the Netherlands, she fol-
lege of Design and began his career as an illustrator.
lowed monumental design on art academy The hague.
His paintings have appeared on movie posters, books,
Her work is in the Tullman collection Chicago, ING
billboards, magazines, stamps and advertisements
collection Amsterdam, Formal Scheringa collection,
throughout the country and around the world. John
mohlman museum collection, van Lien collection and
maintains a successful art illustration carrer for 20 years.
many private collections. Her work was exhibited at the MEAM museum Barcelona, Wausau museum the
His studio is in La Crescenta, CA. John’s ine art and
US , Scheringa museum NL, and Mohlmann museum
igurative work is primarily based on the people in
NL, also she was working with gallery Mokum Amster-
his life and those whom he meets near home or while
dam , gallery Beinart Brunswick Australie, Abend gal-
traveling. His paintings depict his subjects in a highly
lery, Zhou B art center Chicago and Robert Lange Stu-
realistic style as they endeavor to illuminate their inner
dios. Summer of 2019 she was an artist in residence
joys and sorrows.
in Canada New foundland at Pouch cove and she recently published her irst art book about the series of
Sebastian Sandu’s igurative work captures both luid
the aging female body which she painted for 10 years.
and fractured aspects of human identity. Working pri-
The most recent gallery representation is at the Stone
marily with oils, he often ventures into the charcoal and
Sparrow NYC.
acrylic area to illustrate his voice. Searching deeper into his subject’s inherited and personal territory, Sandu is
Brianna Lee is a igurative oil painter working in the re-
eager to explore their mixed ethnicity, race, gender
alist tradition. Her work focuses on the emotional interi-
identity or other typologies. By celebrating diversity,
or world of her portrait subjects, often portraying them
Sandu reveals previously unseen details of our society
against dramatic landscapes that act as a metaphorical
which suggests, despite our differences, that we can
narrative of their life. Her work aims to highlight the
function as one perfectly healthy organism. Romanian
quiet inward strength and resilience of her female sub-
born (b.1978) and Michigan based artist, Sebastian
jects. The use of contrasted lighting and rich and emo-
Sandu graduated from the National Art and Design
tive colors convey the sentiment of each individual.
University, in Bucharest. His paintings were shown in
While many of her narratives are ictional, she gleans
museums, solo shows, group shows and can be found
inspiration from her own life experiences and of her
in private collections around the United States.
models, friends and family. The wide open landscapes
As a igurative painter, Patricia Schappler has shown
Sam Wilson is a self-taught oil painter based in San
both regionally and nationally, and been recognized
Antonio, TX whose main focus is realism. Born in 1986
with over 60 drawing and painting awards. More re-
originally from Wichita KS Sam was interested in art
cent exhibitions include: Painting the Figure Now 111,
from a young age. In high school Sam took a number
Nude, Mark Makers Invitational, The National Figurative
of art classes but his main focus was in ceramics. Af-
Drawing and Painting Exhibition and Mama. Her work
ter high school Sam attended Butler Community Col-
may be found in publications including: Manifest INPA
lege with a small scholarship for art. There he took a
and INDA, PoetsArtists, Strokes of Genius, Booooooom,
few design classes as well as sculpture. From there he
Direct Art, International Artist Magazine, The Café Re-
attended The University of Kansas with a focus in Mar-
view, Hashtag Magazine, Artist Network, New Hamp-
keting Communications. After a year at KU at the age
shire Magazine, and Studio Visit. She is one of twelve
of 23 Sam took a break from university during which he
siblings, married, with four young adult children, and
painted his irst oil painting under the guidance of his
has her studio practice within the 1899 farm-home she
father, Kent Wilson. From that point on he never looked
and her husband have been renovating in Bedford,
back. He has shown his work in several venues in Wich-
New Hampshire for the past six years.
ita and San Antonio as well as a number of competitions all over the United States. Among other recogni-
Born in the eastern part of Nigeria in the year 1991
tion in 2015 his piece “American Busker” was selected
Austin Uzor hails from Imo state. Uzor trained as a
as a inalist in the Hunting Art Prize in Houston. In 2016
draftsman and painter and has a studio practice setup
he was the irst place winner of the Jerry’s Artarama
around this bedrock. He explores the world of the un-
Portrait Contest. Sam has original and commissioned
known by means of delving into psychological spaces,
artwork in private collections throughout Texas and the
feelings, and alternate realities in search of existential
United States. Sam currently lives and works in San An-
truths. He moved to the US in 2016 and this move is
tonio, TX.
now the subject of his most current body of work and narrative, focusing on the traumas of being displaced.
Anna Wypych, based in Poland, paints realistic por-
Uzor thinks of his paintings as igurative abstract ex-
traits in the traditional oil technique. Her art contains el-
pressions with distorted realities.
ements of hyperrealism, surrealism and pure imaginative. Characteristic of her are philosophical texts, which
Victor Wang grew up in Northern China and gradu-
always complements her works. Artist concentrates on
ated BFA from The Lu Xun Academy of Fine Arts, one
the human condition and her powerful women portraits
of three top art institutes in China. After graduation he
show a variety of inner strength which can be found in
taught there for four and a half years and was sent to
people seen from the positive point of view.
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign as a visiting scholar. He earned his MFA in Fontbonne Uni-
Zack Zdrale attended the University of Wisconsin-
versity. He currently lives in St. Louis, where he teaches
Madison, earning a Bachelor of Science-Art degree in
painting, drawing and graduate critique classes as a full
1999. His training culminated in a Master’s degree in
professor at Fontbonne University. He has exhibited
igurative painting from the Academy of Art University
widely across the country and internationally and has
in San Francisco. He graduated with honors and now
won various awards for excellence, including awards
teaches in the Graduate Fine Art Department. Zdrale
for both painting and art instruction. His work has been
has been showing his work nationally and internation-
shown nationally and internationally.
ally since 2007.