Elements: Fire focuses on works inspired by the first of the four Elements – Fire. The other Elements – Water, Wind and Earth – are as vital to artistic inspiration and they will be featured in upcoming exhibitions. The group show features work by Philip Stein, Vasily Kafanov, Artem Mirolevich, Dimitri Semakov, Yuliya Lanina, and Mary Westring.

Their works are a symbol of natural and spiritual qualities of Fire: a phenomenon of combustion manifested in intense heat and light in the form of glow or flames. The work of Estano evokes a violent and deep feeling. His paintings explore a struggle between man and the machine. The Fire in his work is political and as wll as visual creating tension between the subject matter and the viewer through the use of color, line, and form. Vasily Kafanov’s work brings in a mystical element to the word fire, which is a strong theme in his work as well as in his illustration, most notably for the Smashing Pumpkins record covers. Artem Mirolevich enhances the show with his deep color and a message of individual and collective apocalypse. His work warns us of the destructive qualities and the misuse of fire as a symbol of national identity. The two women in the show Mary Westring and Yuliya Lanina share a candid more passionate view of the word through inspirational paintings. Joining them is Dimitri Semakov with paintings that will warm up the spiritual side of the viewer.