Archives: Artists

Cynthia Ruskin brings a refined sensuality and timeless elegance to her work, capturing a longing for Romanticism that resonates with viewers. Her masterful technique in drawing and use of line breathes life into her subjects, creating an initial aura of formality that reveals something deeper beneath the surface. What emerges is a search for perfection and the essence of femininity that is neither raw nor stylized, but beautifully idealized.

A native New Yorker, Ruskin began her artistic career as a mature artist, training at both the Pratt Institute and later at the Arts Students League under master instructors Peter Cox and Anthony Palumbo. Her life experiences and rigorous training have honed her technical skills as both a draftsperson and keen observer of the human form. She has exhibited her work widely across the United States and is represented by Park West Gallery, where collectors appreciate her distinctive approach to capturing feminine grace and beauty.

Born in Santiago, Chile, in 1946, Alex Perez comes from a remarkable artistic lineage as the fourth generation of Jewish artists. He studied painting at the Academy of Fine Arts in Santiago and later honed his skills working in his father’s studio. In 1964, he immigrated to Israel and settled in Kibbutz Ramat Yohanan, where he balanced agricultural work with teaching painting at the Regional School after completing his army service. In 1968, he was accepted as a member of the Kibbutz Movement Artists Association, and by 1977 he moved to Tel Aviv, where he continues to work and live today.

Perez’s artistic heritage runs deep on both sides of his family. His mother’s family included notable musicians, among them Philharmonic conductor Victor Tevah, who received the Chilean National Prize and often accompanied cellist Pablo Casals. This musical influence infuses his paintings with distinctive rhythm in their lines and colors. On his father Eduardo Perez’s side, generations of artists worked in fields ranging from painting to architecture, including ancestors who restored wall paintings and frescoes in ancient Spanish cathedrals.

Working in oils, acrylics, watercolors, engravings, murals, stained glass paintings, sculpture, serigraphy, and embellished serigraphs, Perez creates art that combines sophisticated color sensibility with an expressionist approach. His large murals grace the walls of Holon’s largest synagogue, and his stained glass paintings decorate several Tel Aviv synagogues. Represented by Park West Gallery, his works are held in public and private collections across Israel, the United States, England, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Chile, Switzerland, France, and Germany.

Alex Pauker was born in Russia in 1974 under a Communist regime and attended Yekaterinburg College of Art, where he refined his natural painting talent. Located at the beginning of the Trans-Siberian Railroad in St. Petersburg, Yekaterinburg’s scenic beauty proved hugely inspirational in developing Pauker’s visual style.

After graduating, Pauker sought further inspiration by traveling the world with his wife, Sveta Esser. Europe captivated him so deeply that he decided to earn a second degree in Fine Arts as a foreign exchange student. While continuing his studies and working at a publishing house, he was awarded the International Leningrad Art Contest.

As his style evolved, Pauker began painting with both palette knife and brush using the impasto technique. This built-up texture adds depth and dimension to his canvases, capturing the essence of his landscapes. He works with saturated, bold, contemporary colors and often paints en plein air to recreate the light and colors of the seasons. His work is heavily influenced by the Fauves and Post-Impressionists.

Pauker has exhibited as a solo artist at the Museum of Ramat Gan in Israel, the Cultural Center of Natanya, the Gesher Gallery of Tel Aviv, and the Smart Gallery at Hilton, Tel Aviv. He now resides in Haifa, Israel, where he maintains a studio while continuing to travel extensively with his wife and two children. Pauker is represented by Park West Gallery.

Victoria Montesinos was born in 1944 in Mexico City, the only daughter of well-known Mexican movie director Fernando A. Rivero and Maty Humana. When she was barely three years old, Victoria was sent to live with her grandparents. Her grandmother followed strict old-school principles, believing children should be disciplined, seen and not heard, and only speak when spoken to. Childish fun and games were restricted because of her grandmother’s serious temperament, and Victoria had few opportunities to see her parents, as her mother traveled frequently and her father was always busy.

Victoria’s childhood was spent in a large house in the Juarez neighborhood, where the formal atmosphere and limited parental contact shaped her early years. Despite these constraints, she would go on to develop her own artistic voice, eventually becoming recognized for her work. Today, Victoria Montesinos is represented by Park West Gallery, where collectors appreciate the unique perspective and creativity that emerged from her distinctive upbringing in Mexico City.

Pablo Muñoz brings the traditions of Spanish masters into contemporary art through his luminous landscapes and scenic vistas. Born in Cuzco, Peru in 1965, he comes from a long line of painters who immigrated to Lima. Muñoz claims his ancestors assisted famous Spanish artists who traveled to Cuzco, sponsored by the Spanish elite to create religious art. He refined the skills passed down through generations by studying at the School of Arts of Cuzco.

His artistic philosophy centers on a profound message: that light guides us through life’s mysterious and often dark journey, illuminating the path forward and giving travelers the incentive to complete their voyage. Muñoz’s technique combines the drama of the Old Masters with the light and loose brushstrokes of the Impressionists, creating a classical style that focuses on lush, serene landscapes.

His paintings are both inviting and foreboding, with ribbons of light and flashes of intense color piercing through darkened skies. Along with his enchanting landscapes, Muñoz is celebrated for his depictions of majestic peacocks, whose iridescent feathers evoke traditional symbolism of royalty, rebirth, and pride. His work, represented by Park West Gallery, characteristically conveys hope and optimism through dramatic contrasts between light and shadow.

Born in Michigan in 1953, Mark Newman moved to New York in 1982 and later settled in Atlanta in 1992. There he met his wife Stephanie, an artist who recognized his creative talent and encouraged him to explore painting. In 1994, she gave him his first watercolor palette, sparking a journey that would transform his life. Completely self-taught, Newman began developing his distinctive bright, vibrant style.

Newman discovered his true passion when he turned to marine tropical fish as subjects. His natural tendency toward bold, luminous colors proved a perfect match for depicting the underwater world. While he takes some artistic liberties with corals and sponges, his fish are painted with careful accuracy, capturing both their vivid hues and individual personalities in his watercolors and seriolithographs.

Today, Newman is considered a master of reef fish depiction and is represented by Park West Gallery. His work celebrates the beauty and character of marine life, bringing the brilliant colors of tropical reefs to collectors who appreciate his unique artistic vision and technical skill.

Barry McCann was born in 1962 in Armidale, New South Wales, Australia, where he still lives today with his wife and fellow artist, Lucy. His passion for art began as a young student and continued through college, where he discovered drawing could earn money and friendships. These talents proved valuable during his career as a chef and cake decorator, but in 1990 an introductory watercolor course at the Canberra School of Arts opened an entirely new world for him.

McCann studied with leading artists to build his skills, drawing particular inspiration from John Singer Sargent after discovering a book about the master’s life and work. In 2000, he became a professional artist. Following travels to Great Britain and Europe in 2006, he began experimenting beyond watercolor and now paints almost exclusively in oils.

His work features animated subjects with dramatic lighting, fusing traditional representational art with contemporary techniques like loose edges, visible brushstrokes, dribbles, and splatter. McCann seeks to create not just opinions but genuine connections with viewers. His talents have earned numerous honors, including the 2013 People’s Choice Award at the Manning Art Prize, multiple Mortimore Prize finalist selections, and the 2010 Portrait Prize at the Mortimore Prize. He has exhibited with the Australian Watercolour Institute and demonstrated techniques on the television show “Put Some Colour In Your Life.” McCann is represented by Park West Gallery.

Illuminated manuscripts emerged in the 6th century AD and flourished across Europe by the 13th century, gracing monasteries, medieval churches, and the libraries of wealthy patrons. These exquisitely decorated books served both liturgical purposes in church services and personal devotions for monks, nuns, and laypeople. The term “illumination” refers to the painstaking process of gilding and painting each page with gold leaf, silverpoint drawings, and vibrant plant- and lead-based paints. Since literacy was limited during the Middle Ages, these illustrations helped readers interpret the Latin verses within.

As literacy spread during the 13th through 15th centuries, demand for manuscripts grew dramatically. The 14th century saw a thriving industry in commissioned books for royalty and aristocrats, with the Book of Hours becoming the most popular by the 15th century. This standard collection of prayers and psalms was designed for personal devotional use at home, and most people learned to read from one. Wealthy patrons could commission their own illuminated manuscripts, sometimes receiving a “donor portrait” depicting themselves alongside Christ and the apostles.

Park West Gallery is proud to represent a collection of these historically significant works, originally created during the 13th through 15th centuries. Each hand-illustrated manuscript is mounted in Plexiglas so both sides remain visible, offering collectors a unique opportunity to own a stunning piece of medieval artistry.

Felix Mas, born in Barcelona, Spain in 1934, is celebrated for what critics call his “sensual elegance”—luminous oil paintings and graphic works that capture idealized visions of femininity. A self-described traditionalist, Mas draws inspiration from Asian culture, particularly Japanese woodblock prints, as well as the fashions of India and the classical grace of Egypt, Rome, and Greece. His interest in art began in childhood, and he refined his craft at the San Jorge Academy of Fine Arts in Barcelona before launching his career with a solo exhibition at Galeria Jaimes.

Mas’s distinctive style features bold colors paired with provocative body language, while his subjects often avert their gaze, allowing viewers to appreciate the work without direct engagement. Each woman is dressed in rich, elegantly draped fabrics rendered through pigments the artist creates himself. In 1974, Mas and his family relocated to Caracas, Venezuela, where they remained until 1979, exhibiting throughout the country and into the United States.

Since then, Mas has divided his time between Barcelona and the United States, and his work is represented by Park West Gallery. His paintings continue to captivate collectors with their fresh, luminous quality and timeless elegance.

Moshe Leider was born in 1945 in Chernovich, USSR, and trained at the prestigious Art Academy of the Soviet Union in Moscow from 1965 to 1970. After immigrating to Israel in 1978, he continued his artistic education at the Art School in Ramat-Hasharon, where he further developed his distinctive style.

A versatile artist, Leider works across multiple mediums including watercolors, acrylic, oil, and mixed media. His technical mastery and creative vision have made him a respected figure in the international art community. He has dedicated himself to teaching for over a decade while maintaining an active exhibition schedule, sharing his expertise with emerging artists.

Leider is a member of the Israel Association of Painters and Sculptors and has exhibited his work extensively in both solo and group shows. His paintings have been displayed throughout Israel, France, Germany, Sweden, and the United States, earning recognition from collectors worldwide. Today, Leider is represented by Park West Gallery, where his work continues to captivate audiences with its skillful technique and artistic depth.