Color Theater - Purple

In Chinese culture, the most auspicious association with purple is the phrase "purple air coming from the east," symbolizing the air of immortals and nobility. Across various civilizations, purple has been regarded as a color representing the highest level of existence. For instance, those who wore purple robes were often members of the nobility, a status attributed to the rarity of purple dye. In fashion history, the tale of Wang Hao Zi Yi (the emperor's love for wearing purple) illustrates how purple has been highly sought after by the upper echelons of society since ancient times. The phrase "More Red than Purple" conveys that the popularity of certain fashion icons has reached unparalleled heights, with purple representing the pinnacle of style.

In the upcoming purple-themed group exhibition, even a glance at the artwork conveys the unique physiological and psychological reactions purple evokes. It is not a calming color due to its red undertones, yet it does not evoke passionate excitement as it does not belong to the warm color spectrum. Instead, purple is enchanting and mysterious, lingering in one's mind even after it fades from view. It entices exploration while maintaining an air of distance, making it particularly apt for expressing indescribable emotions.

The allure of purple extends beyond its cultural and psychological significance to its distinct physical properties. Positioned at the highest frequency band of the visible spectrum, just before transitioning into invisible ultraviolet light, purple is inherently unique. Like other colors, purple encompasses a wide range of shades, each possessing its own personality. Exploring these variations promises a fascinating journey—one we can embark on together.

Loy Luo

Artworks

Sherry Dean

Bougainvillea’s Eyes

20” x 16”

Mixed Media: Original Photo, Oil Paint, Acrylic Paint, Markers

2023

$950

Polina Kroik

Flight

8*11.5"

Pigment Transfer Print

2024

$200

Polina Kroik

Ascent

7.5*11.5"

Pigment Transfer Print

2024

$200

Anthony Gallozzi

Frost Bite

18*12"

Acrylic on Brown Paper Bag

2024

$400

Anthony Gallozzi

Embracing Uncertainty

24*18"

Acrylic on Canvas

2024

$1000

Loy Luo

Purple S

48*48"

Mixed Media

2023

$22000

Loy Luo

Zen

Oil on Canvas

31.5*24"

2019-2024

$5500

Loy Luo

Swim

Oil on Canvas

35*28"

2018

$6600

Loy Luo

Fake Sutra

Oil on Canvas

35*28"

2014-2024

$6600

Loy Luo

Saint

Oil on Canvas

35*28"

2014-2024

$6600

Artists：

Sherry Dean

Sherry Dean is a native New Yorker who is a firm believer that Arts Education is a vitally important in the schooling of young children. She began taking art classes in New York City Public Schools and was lucky enough to attend High Schools where she took commercial art, fashion design, painting and drawing.
At NYU Tisch School of the Arts, Sherry received a Bachelor of Arts, having studied theater and photography. Upon graduating NYU, Sherry got a job at the NY Daily News as a "Copy Boy” and got dozens of photographs and articles published in what was then the bestselling newspaper in the country. She eventually became an on-air Arts and Entrainment reporter for CNN’s Showbiz Today based in NY and followed that job as a Field Producer interviewing celebrities for E! News Daily. Sherry left her TV work to raise her two now grown sons and concentrate on doing art.

Max Van Lorimer

Max Van Lorimer creates work that engages abstract geometry, light, and color to reshape human perception. His light installations and one-of-a-kind mixed media unpaintings are grounded in a persistent, recursive pattern of inquiry into both material and ephemeral conditions of existence. Van Lorimer's use of color plays out as a curious and ferocious aesthetic urge- delving into interrelationship between constructed form and the territory it occupies, in so doing influencing the viewer's experience of space and scale.
Drawing inspiration from particle physics, quantum mechanics, and optical phenomena, his practice often reflects the complexities of rare or speculative states of matter, subatomic interactions, and the intricate behavior of light. These scientific underpinnings amplify his conceptual depth, creating works that act as portals into the unseen forces shaping our universe.Max will present a debut public installation of his light work in downtown Providence, Rhode Island from February 1st – 17th, 2025, for the Lumina 2025 light arts festival.Mixed Media: Unpainting (Unique Chromaluxe Aluminum Print on Wood Panel with Plaster, Spackle and Acrylic),

Marcus Carter

My work is driven by a deep sense of empathy toward humanity and an unwavering faith that kindness will triumph. This conviction is mirrored in my art, as I draw inspiration from the masterful works of Basquiat, Beckmann, Kandinsky, Klee, Kooning and Miró—artists whom I greatly admire”.
I studied at Educational Alliance under Albert Wasserman. When he passed away, I began taking classes at Chelsea Classic Studios, Art Students League and Atelier Jolie via SVA. I consider myself self-taught and guided by my subjects or ideas on how to approach the canvas.

Wendy Kaplan Friend

Wendy Kaplan Friend is an innovative New York metal, stone and glass sculptor for more than 40 years. Her creations have been exhibited in private collections in the US and internationally. She is a life member at the Art Students League where she has studied for 13 years.
In Wendy’s current body of work she fabricates her interpretation of metal shoes, hats and backpacks. Her welding process uses different heat treatments to produce metal reactions and visual effects. Wendy’s works include vibrant colored coatings, textures and different stainless-steel patterns. Each metal element is hand-forged and welded together, creating soft textures out of an inherently rigid material.
Wendy has explored mixed media sculpture through the incorporation of fused glass inserts into her metal shoe designs. Ms. Kaplan Friend merges the three-dimensional glass with the forged metal.
Ms. Kaplan Friend has taught graphic design and has worked as a consultant in fine arts museums in New York and Los Angeles. Ms. Kaplan Friend holds an MA in Museum Education from the Bank Street College of Education in New York and a certification in Multimedia Design from UCLA. Website: www.wendykaplanfriend.com

Polina Kroik

Polina Kroik is a visual artist and writer based in NYC. Working in the media of digital photography, printmaking, and painting, Polina is inspired by NYC’s diversity and vitality. Whether on the street with a camera or in the studio, she seeks to capture the ways in which everyday occurrences overlap with fantasy and emotion. Polina’s photographs and prints have been exhibited at Baxter Street Gallery, Culture Lab LIC, the Brooklyn Public Library and the Art Students League. Her writing has been published in Lilith Magazine, The Slag Glass City, and the New York Daily News.
Artist Statement: My paintings and photographs seek to capture the embodied experience of living in a metropolis. Resisting the clichés of Hollywood and the tourist selfie, I look for charged moments in which we may glimpse something raw and unexpected. In the series of paintings that includes “No Signal,” I layer image transfers from my photographs with expressionistic paint marks. The paintings suggest a narrative, but they also evoke the breakdown of meaning, connection, and comprehensibility in the ever-accelerating flux of the big city.

Martha Calderon

I was born in Bogota, Colombia and moved to Florida when I was sixteen years old to pursue a career in art. I earned my bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a focus on Printmaking. During my studies, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Santiago Chile, where I was introduced to the world of textiles. This experience inspired me to explore this area further. After completing my degree, I decided to enhance my skills to make my art more functional. I relocated to California to pursue a career as a knitwear designer. I obtained a fashion and textile degree from FIDM and was selected to participate in the Advanced Fashion Design program, where I created my first knitwear collection.The experience of showcasing my work and working in the fashion industry has taught me that what I really enjoy in life is creating unique pieces, so I consider myself to be a Knit Artist instead. Today, I am actively working as a sustainable knit artist while rediscovering my previous skills as a visual artist. My personal goal is to become more vocal about emotional self-healing and to create an emotionally impactful approach through my creations.

Hannabeth Lagerlöf

Hannabeth Lagerlöf :Our culture is in a constant pursuit of self-possession, and I am deeply curious about how our unique filters of perception shape this journey. With a background in Environmental Design and experience creating large-scale murals for tech companies, I am now focusing on the concept of femininity, expressed through figures and natural environments. The deep violet tones that embody the Iris flowers and orchids are decadent and mysterious and that of royalty. This is what the color purple wants to convey. This work is a precursor to my current female figure series, but you can see where the energy of the feminine forms are alive within these Night Royals

Anthony Gallozzi

Anthony Gallozzi, also known as PANCH, is a self-taught abstract artist based in Mabank, Texas, whose work bridges personal transformation and collective connection. Having a degree in Applied Mathematics from the U.S. Naval Academy at Annapolis and with a background in military intelligence and strategic leadership, Anthony brings a disciplined yet emotive approach to his art. His work often explores themes of identity, memory, and the fluid nature of human experience, using bold compositions and layered textures to evoke profound introspection.
A firm believer in the power of art as a space for dialogue and healing, Anthony’s journey into the art world was sparked by a desire to process his own emotions and create works that invite viewers to bring their own interpretations and stories. His unique vision has garnered recognition on platforms like TikTok, where his pieces have reached millions, and through local exhibitions like Plano’s Art Drop Day. Dedicated to growth and connection, Anthony continues to push boundaries, seeking opportunities to share his work and foster deeper human connections.

Loy Luo

Loy Luo is an artist based in New York. She received a master’s degree from the Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology and taught art at the Beijing Institute of Science and Technology Management.

Luo's focus has been painting and sculpting. She is also a concept and performance artist, a poet, a vocalist, and a writer. Her art has been exhibited or collected in China, Italy, France, the United States, Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Australia, and other countries.