Iva Milanova Bridges Figuration and Abstraction at Agora Gallery

Bulgarian, Berlin-based painter Iva Milanova moves effortlessly between figurative portraits and abstract patterns which emphasize geometric forms, recurring shapes and shifting surfaces. Her portraits, which portray archetypal social types or religious subjects like the Madonna, have a discernible Cubist quality to their facial features, while also evoking the Expressionist paintings of Ernst Ludwig Kirchner. A few of Milanova’s female figures approach a level of near-abstract deconstruction, providing strong visual connections to her geometric works, which in turn hark back to the traditional Bulgarian folk art and textiles which she cites as major influences.
Yet the relationship between Milanova’s abstract and figurative paintings involves more than shared geometric components. In both styles she creates dynamic and surprising compositions, relying not only on repeating and alternating lines, but also on rich and varied textures. Her style of application ranges from fine and delicate facial details to thickly applied impasto in the abstract works. This agility with her oil paints lends each canvas additional layers of dimensionality and textural richness.

Exhibition Dates: September 15th, 2012 – October 5th, 2012
Reception: Thursday, September 20th, 2012
Gallery Location: 530 West 25th St, New York City
Gallery Hours: Tues – Sat, 11a.m. - 6 p.m.
Event URL: http://www.agora-gallery.com/artistpage/Iva_Milanova.aspx

About the Exhibition
Agora Gallery is leaping into the fall with four fantastic exhibitions. The works of In Reverie of Form demonstrate all the flair and drive that characterizes the best of contemporary art, while in Elements of Abstraction viewers will be charmed and intrigued by the skillful and appealing command of form and line. Meanwhile, Masters of the Imagination: The Latin American Fine Art Exhibition brings the passionate energy of Latin American artists to New York and Sudnya Shroff / a solo exhibition: Weaving the Rainbow presents the delightful work of an Indian American artist whose aesthetic excellence knows no bounds. The exhibitions begin on September 15, 2012 and run until October 5, 2012. The opening reception will take place on the evening of Thursday September 20, 2012, at 6-8pm. All art lovers are warmly invited to attend, enjoy and meet some of the talented artists whose works are displayed.

Featured Artists:

Elements of Abstraction
Wendy Cohen | Gail Edmonds | Andy Fullalove | Katrina Howarth | Heidi Kirschner | Regina Loch-Elvert | Lee Savage | Cordell Taylor
In Reverie of Form
Otto Boron | Donatella Colasanti | Pia Descamps | Iva Milanova | Nicolò Orsi Battaglini | Donna Serio | Sylvie Vermandel
Sudnya Shroff / a solo exhibition: Weaving the Rainbow
Masters of the Imagination: The Latin American Fine Art Exhibition
María Eugenia Akel | Nélida Diaz de D'Amato | Yolanda Eljaiek | Adriana Escobar | Bruno Falcão | Maria Gomez Ponti | Octavio Guinart | Mariza Sánchez | Carmen Sotuela | Enzo Trapani
Interviews with the artists and high resolution images are available upon request.

About Agora Gallery
Agora Gallery is a fine art gallery, established in 1984 and located in the heart of New York City’s Chelsea art galleries district. It is famous for showcasing a spectacular array of talented artists from around the world and around the corner, while providing quality and original art to collectors. Gallery II, an elegant adjacent gallery space, gives artists the ideal area for a solo or group exhibition of their own, organized and publicized by Agora Gallery. The gallery publishes ARTisSpectrum Magazine, a bi-annual magazine that is distributed to museums, galleries, art institutions and art schools around the world. It provides artists, collectors, museums, galleries, art organizations and enthusiasts with access to the work of international talented artists as well as feature articles, reviews and interviews. Agora Gallery is the proud sponsor of ARTmine, one of the most comprehensive resources available worldwide to view and purchase fine art. The gallery also runs Agora Art Blog, a blog designed to provide helpful information and advice for artists while providing a forum for artists to help one another by sharing their experiences and thoughts.

Agora Gallery
Tuesday - Saturday, 11am - 6pm
530 West 25th Street, New York, NY
10001
Joyce Asper
Tel. (212) 226 - 4151

This release was published on openPR.