Crossing the water with caged finch Print

I was born 1957 in Shkoder, Albania, a small sunny Mediterranean country. During childhood I was interested in music. Little by little I abandoned music for painting through which I better expressed myself.I received my BFA from the Institute of Arts in Tirana, Albania in 1981. In January 1988 I escaped from Albania for political and artistic freedom. Same year emigrated to USA where I pursued my Master of Fine Arts at Michigan State University, I graduated in 1991. Now I live in Yonkers, New York where I enjoy my family life. Presently I'm runing my own Studio - Gallery, 191 Hillside Avenue, Yonkers, NY 10703.Paintings at my gallery are colorful, textured, and technically executed. My images weave images of music, my past and remains of my daily life, Albanian and American patterns and compositions. Expressionistic, painterly, and inspirational.Since the mid 90s, my work has focused on the themes of music and memories of childhood and adolescence. My paintings often weave together mythical stories of a lost culture with remembrances of my past life, including fragmented references to musical instrument and musical notation, iconography, and folklore from the Balkans.The prominence of musical notes, musicians, dancers and musical instruments is notable in my paintings. As an adolescent, I went to music school for eight years where I played the violin and guitar. I chose not to become a musician because my interest in colors and shapes was far more intense than my interest in sounds. But still, the shapes and colors of instruments are very much "music to my eyes."Many times, I incorporate collages of musical notes and other textured objects in my paintings to create flat and two-dimensional impressions. Realistic, figural, and abstract imagery, parts of musical instruments, musical notes, musicians and other objects are used together to create interesting and spontaneous "Jazz" and "Classical" compositions.The legends and folk songs of the Balkans, memories of traditionally costumed men and women, and architecture from the cities and towns of my youth, all have a direct influence on my paintings. My study of folk costumes, and the motifs and compositions of folk art, aid in the creation in my work of authentic details and textures, and picturesque tones.