Short Bio
The artist is a New York native who currently makes his home in North Carolina. His work covers a broad spectrum of mediums, from oils and acrylics on canvas, to pencil drawing, to air brushed liquified pastels, to photography, sometimes mixing several mediums in one piece. Subject matter is equally diversified, but always passionate and filled with emotional content.
Statement
Color sense, form, feeling, and attention to negative space relationships are the four elements which give vibrancy and life to the work. "I strive to be restrained with my work, leaving room for the viewer to inhabit the piece", he says. "Once I turn the work over for public display it is no longer mine. Though it moved through me it belongs to the viewer."
Biography
The artist is the recipient of two International Awards for Fine Art, curated by eminent jurors representing the Metropolitan Museum of Art; the Whitney Museum of Art; Los Angeles County Museum; and Art In America magazine. His work has been exhibited and sold through galleries in New York City's SOHO art district.
In 2016 the artist began signing his work as, "Bhaj". He had rescued cat that he named Camir. He named her that because when I brought her home, she spent almost a week under his bed with him on my hands and knees tapping the floor saying, "Come 'ere kitty. Come 'ere". Hence "Camir" or come here. Sadly, she passed away very shortly after she was rescued. Shortly after she died, he had a dream of Camir where she was walking past him, stopped, looked into his eyes and said, "You are Bhaj".
In Hindi, "bhaj" generally translates to "praise" or "worship," often used in the context of devotion to a deity or higher power. When Camir called him "Bhaj" in his dream he interpreted it as a message of deep reverence, love, and gratitude. It's as if she was telling him that he was Camir's source of comfort and care in her last days, someone worthy of admiration and respect.
Additional past work can be viewed by clicking this link, Gallery. There is a sampling of the variety of mediums and styles the artist works with.
