A wide range of influences contributes to the bold, unflinching imagery found in Timo Hanley’s work. From graffiti art to the sonic and lyrical work of Jimi Hendrix, popular cultural influences as well as religion and political events have all shaped the emphatic, expressive style of Hanley’s paintings. Hanley’s aesthetic sensibilities both shock and mesmerize. His work demands a keen eye, as each angle uncovers a new symbol or thematic reference. Whether exploring matters of the soul, or self-preservation, Hanley’s work is consistently dynamic and fearless. The symbol of the circle is widely used in Hanley’s work, ranging in shape, size and symmetry. From halos and moons, to circular targets used in dart games, Hanley utilizes the circle to explore and convey themes of completion, boundaries, the soul and eternity. In Buddhist art, which Hanley studied while at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), the circle is referred to as the “enso” and is a symbol of enlightenment. Using these circles, layered with other stirring images, Hanley creates compelling, narrative works that speak volumes.

N atasha Rosenbaum’s vibrant, impressionist paintings glow with the energetic enthusiasm both of their creation and their subjects--her portraits of women and bursts of floral life reflect a mood of ecstatic creativity in every brushstroke. In Rosenbaum’s work, background and subject appear to meld in a dynamic force, with the subject seemingly both emerging from and melting back into the negative space of the background. The dramatic use of light and shadow enhances a feeling of the subject coming into being before our very eyes. Skin is often tinted with gold or gleaming white, and the borders of things are frayed or blurred as if captured in motion. The fragmented parts of raw experience come together in Rosenbaum’s vision to create a unique whole. This holistic approach to her painting gives her work an organic totality from which she can experiment with palettes, and follow the trail of the creative moment. Although the moods of her paintings vary, there is always a vulnerable confidence in them, a faith in the power of the colors and composition. Natasha Rosenbaum strives to convey a universal feeling of love through her work; she achieves this, and more. Her paintings are the results of a commitment to both artistic expression which is true to the self, and to deep human communication through the medium of art.