Ana Tzarev Gallery Celebrates a World of Flowers

Exhibition Dates: June 24 through August 8, 2009

NEW YORK, June 18 /PRNewswire/ -- The Ana Tzarev Gallery (http://www.anatzarev.com/) will host Ana's World of Flowers, an exhibition of floral paintings featuring over 37 species representing the range of flowers the artist Ana Tzarev observed in her lifetime of travel.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090618/NY34776 )

Ana Tzarev spent years studying horticulture and researching plant life in countries around the world. Her works are based on sources as diverse as the indigenous plants of Africa, the exotic tropical flowers of Hawaii and the gardens outside her studio. Tzarev was greatly inspired by the flower merchants of Southeast Asia and the vista of their boats overflowing with fresh flowers on the way to market. Fragrant River, 2004, captures this scene in a dramatic, large scale painting.

The artist Ana Tzarev has a special affinity for the exotic flowers of Hawaii, represented in this exhibition in a group of vibrant watercolors and larger acrylic paintings, including Gold of Hawaii, 2005, a tribute to the state flower of Hawaii. Tzarev's floral works are strongly impressionistic, her impasto style captures the vitality of the subject and her signature use of color brings her floral paintings to life; the flowers appear as if they could be plucked off the canvas. The artist's passion for the subject is evident, "My devotion to flowers began in my childhood by tending my grandmother's garden," says Tzarev, "to this day flowers are the standard by which I judge all other beauty as well as the inspiration for the pure color I use in my work".

About the Artist:

Ana Tzarev was born in Trogir, Croatia in 1937 surrounded by the inspiring presence of Renaissance art and the heritage of centuries of a deeply rooted culture. Her work reveals her formal, classical education as well as her passion for life and the joy of painting.

A very physical painter, Ana Tzarev works on a large scale, using massive amounts of pure, vibrant color in a unique sculptural approach known as impasto. The energy required to render the paintings is tremendous and the resultant works are vibrant, powerful and emotional.

Ana Tzarev's paintings center on her observations and experiences gained from worldwide travels and reflect her remarkable knowledge of the history and cultural traditions of the lands she has visited. Tzarev lived for many years in New Zealand and Australia and travelled widely in the Asia Pacific region, developing a deep interest in the arts of Japan including Kabuki theatre, the tea ceremony, ink painting and woodblock prints.

Tzarev is equally fascinated and influenced by her travels in Africa. She approaches both series with exceptional cultural knowledge and her interpretation connects to the respective cultures. While her Japanese works are steeped in tranquillity, much of her African art pulses with energy.

Ana Tzarev spent years studying horticulture and has designed public and private gardens, her floral paintings represent dozens of species observed throughout her worldwide travels.

Through her work the artist Ana Tzarev chronicles a wide range of rituals and scenes of daily life from countries around the world. In her own words she describes her legacy, "As I travel through time, I record my experiences in paintings and leave them as postcards to future generations".

The Ana Tzarev Gallery:

The Ana Tzarev Gallery features the work of the artist Ana Tzarev as well as presenting special exhibitions of works by other artists consistent with Ana Tzarev's commitment to cultural awareness and social consciousness. For more information please visit http://www.anatzarev.com.