FRESNO — The Henry Madden Library at Fresno State will continue to present a retrospective exhibition of artwork by Kristin Saleri — a pioneering 20th century artist of Armenian heritage who lived in Istanbul — until May 31 in the Leon S. Peters Ellipse Gallery and Pete P. Peters Balcony gallery. Despite the challenges presented by her gender and ethnicity, she secured her place as a member of the founding generation of modern art in Turkey.
Saleri, who trained in Paris, was influenced stylistically by Impressionism and used art to convey a message of modern feminism. Her work is filled with images evoking her love of the vast Anatolian landscape and its people — from women in traditional village dances to Bosporus fishermen to laborers in booming post-World War II factories.
Stylistically, Saleri’s work presents a blend of Eastern mysticism and Western Impressionism. Her folkloric themes range from Christian images to whirling dervishes and from Mother Earth to the Tree of Life. Her message was one of inclusivity, expressing her deep appreciation for the range of diversity in nature and humanity.
The exhibition is curated by Fresno natives Joyce Kierejczyk and Carol Tikijian, who also curated a spring exhibition at the Fresno Art Museum of works by artists of Armenian descent in commemoration of the centennial of the Armenian genocide. The artworks exhibited are on loan from members of Saleri’s family who reside in Houston.
For more information on the artist, visit www.kristinsaleri.com.
For more information, visit www.kristinsaleri.com, www.library.fresnostate.edu or contact Cindy Wathen at 559.278.1680 (office), 559.593.3604 (cell) or ciwathen@csufresno.edu.
For more information about disability accommodations or physical access, call 559.278.5792 in advance of your visit.
Source: Asbarez
Link: Madden Library Exhibition to Feature Armenian Artist From Istanbul