Vibrant colors, powerful expression, and dynamic composition along with great imagination create works of amazing depth and dimension to intrigue and disarm the viewer. This is but one way to describe the paintings of Persian born artist Hessam Abrishami.

With the inspiration and encouragement of a high school teacher who was an artist himself, the fifteen-year-old Hessam discovered his love of art and his own talent for painting. While in high school, Hessam studied architecture and calligraphy, which contributed to the "fine tuning" of his technique. He received the top honors for his painting in a student competition when he was seventeen. This was the first in a series of awards including top honors in the "New Artist Competition" in Iran.

Hessam settled in Perugia, considering Italy the "center of art", to complete his Master of Fine Art degree at the Accademia Di Belle Arti, "Pietro Vanucci." The contrast of a quiet and relaxed artistic atmosphere with the bright colors of Italy greatly influenced Hessam. Although he concentrated on his first love of portraiture and studies of the anatomy, he also studied impressionism, surrealism, cubism and modern art.

After a dramatic return to his native Persia and a trip back to Italy, Hessam eventually immigrated to Los Angeles in 1984. He continues to paint passionately, influenced by his dramatic life experience. Hessam has exhibited in Europe, Asia and North America. The French press has called his paintings "a statement in the fluidity of human figures…with tension between each figure, a kinship that provokes the viewer to seek reasons for such relationship".

Angel |Campay |Claborn | Draper |Hessam | Mabe
|Nemtoi |Penrod |Pettegrew | Stanford |Walker

© 2002, Signature Art Gallery; images © individual named artists