The original work of two innovative and talented Italian artists Alfonso Rocchi and Paola Rinaldi on display at Agora Gallery, NYC in The Odyssey Within. The exhibition opens on December 29th and will run until January 14st, 2016. The opening reception will take place Thursday, January 7th, from 6-8 PM. Any art lover who enjoys thought-provoking artworks and meeting talented and interesting artists is encouraged to attend.

Exhibition Dates: December 29, 2015 – January 14, 2016
Reception: Thursday January 7, 2016, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Gallery Hours: Tues-Sat 11-6
Gallery Location: 530 West 25th St, Chelsea, New York
Event URL:
Alfonso Rocchi - http://www.agora-gallery.com/artistpage/Alfonso_Rocchi.aspx

Paola Rinaldi - http://www.agora-gallery.com/artistpage/Paola_Rinaldi.aspx

About Alfonso Rocchi

The iconic paintings of Italian artist Alfonso Rocchi are equally subtle and complex. Executed in the High Renaissance style, Rocchi's portraits on the surface seem to capture timeless principles of feminine beauty, but beneath it all there is a pointed questioning of the idealization of the female figure that has persisted across centuries. Classic elements of a long ago time are juxtaposed against symbols of modern culture, inviting the viewer into a world beyond reality, where nothing is truly what it seems.

One of the unique aspects of Rocchi's art lies in the way the artist builds and customizes the frame to complement the work, so that the frames become part of the composition itself. In fact, all of Rocchi's materials and techniques are patterned after those of Italian painters of the sixteenth century such as Dürer, Van der Goes, and Cranach, using only natural materials, layers of plaster and primer, and thin oil paints that build on one another to compose strikingly rich and multifaceted colors and designs. What results are enchanted paintings that are both beautiful and deeply symbolic.

About Paola Rinaldi

The works of Italian artist Paola Rinaldi could best be described as "Informale." In this style, Rinaldi reinterprets recognizable forms and assigns personal meaning to them. Her works center on the sphere of the female and explore the limits imposed on women by culture, age, and nationality. The titles of her paintings often speak to these concerns, while varying in their level of abstraction. Rigid squares may contain spheres marked by sharp, straight lines, or curved forms may take shape in recognizable imagery: bones, yarn, and kites. Rinaldi is interested in time's capability to "modify everything," and her thoughtful symmetries are simultaneously meditative and teeming with dynamic potential.

Color and texture are at the center of Rinaldi's quest to express her emotions. She works with both oils and acrylics, in addition to recycled objects and mixed media supplies, such as ropes, nails, or cardboard. She also strives to communicate specific emotions through her color selections, where gray might indicate restlessness or indecision, and reds or oranges reflect passion. The artist lives and works in Modena, Italy.

About the Exhibition

Three Artists: One Amazing Journey - The Odyssey Within at Agora Gallery

The three artists featured in The Odyssey Within have encapsulated great emotion and vision in their highly stylized paintings. Alfonso Rocchi brings us stunning portraits; his female figures stare out elusively, each carrying or wearing a symbol that alludes to the artist's deeper meaning. Gordana Tomic, on the other end of the spectrum, embraces full abstraction in her works. She swirls colors and forms, often contained within a single circular frame, in order to explore places, elements, and concepts with their pure aesthetics. Between the two, Paola Rinaldi combines colors and geometries with figurative expression by posing her abstractions in unique portraits at the center of her canvases. Together, these three artists take us on an internal voyage, to discover our interpretations of life, psychology, and expression.

About Agora Gallery

Agora Gallery is a contemporary fine art gallery located in the heart of Chelsea's fine art district in New York. Established in 1984, Agora Gallery specializes in connecting art dealers and collectors with national and international artists. The art gallery's expert consultants are available to assist corporate and private clients in procuring original artwork to meet their organization's specific needs and budget requirements. With a strong online presence and popular online gallery, ARTmine, coupled with the spacious and elegant physical gallery space, the work of our talented artists, who work in diverse media and styles, can receive the attention it deserves. Over the years Agora Gallery has sponsored and catered to special events aimed at fostering social awareness and promoting the use of art to help those in need.