Hiroshi Sato at Hespe Gallery, November 4 - December 6, 2014!

Hespe Gallery presents new works by Hiroshi Sato, beginning November 4 – December 6, 2014. A reception will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2014 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Hiroshi Sato’s work presents a refreshing take on exact moments in time. The contemporary realist paintings are seen as snapshots, capturing intimate and still moments. He emphasizes form with his use of light and dark and evokes strong emotions by highlighting different sections of each painting. His use of geometric design elements adds both frame and flatness by playing with illusion and perspective.

Unlike his previous work, Sato’s focus is introspective, spurred by his reflections of the evolution of his creative processes over the past four years. His childhood activities, like piecing together models of planes, cars, and motorcycles, and a love for pop-up books, played a large role in his approach to painting today, and are the subjects within many of the current paintings.

Sato has been featured in Southwest Art Magazine, American Art Collector, Art Business, the Artist’s Magazine and Fine Art Connoisseur. He is currently enrolled in the MFA program at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, where he recently completed his BFA. This will be Sato’s third solo exhibition at Hespe Gallery.

Eric Zener "Pop Paintings"

Hespe Gallery presents new works by Eric Zener, beginning October 2 through November 1, 2014. A reception will be held on Thursday, October 2, 2014 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Eric Zener’s new work offers a pop spin on his signature imagery. Gone are the realistic depictions of swimmers in water and in their place are bold colors and a sense of playfulness that reminds us of the joy we feel when we let go. The use of color as a compositional tool is most synonymous with the work of the 1980’s, and like Warhol and Harring, Zener’s color choices are intrepid and loud. Of course, another association that the pop artists cultivated is that of the brand, and Zener continues with his imagery that is so recognizable, with a fresh spin and natural evolution.

A self-taught painter, Zener was born in Astoria, Oregon and grew up in the seaside town of Encinitas, California. He received his B.A. in psychology from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has shown extensively in Asia, Australia, North America, and Europe, and is included in numerous corporate, private, and museum collections.