Yasharel Manzy
Born 1947
I was born in the ancient Jewish sector of Isfahan, Iran, more than half a century ago. My very first experience in painting was at the age of eleven during the three month school vacation, I would spend long afternoons doing watercolors. The subject matter was mostly the scenes of the city. I attempted to paint again at the age of thirty-three. I painted about twenty canvases mostly of snow scenes. Then to my dislike of the quality of the paintings and my lack of experience, I abandoned painting once again. I suppose due to the lack of patience I always wanted to be able to paint without going through the pain of learning.
In the winter of 1990, while strolling through a gallery, a painting with a French scene caught my attention. There I was, glued to the floor, and then moments later, this incredible, intense feeling overwhelmed me. I found myself at the crossroads of my life. At the time I was a partner in a business that imported and sold Persian rugs in Atlanta. To be able to change careers now and go where my heart was, I knew that I must learn how to paint. The choice was very clear. That afternoon in the gallery I decided to change my destiny and to become a painter.
Within a few days I changed my office from a place of business, into an atelier. For the first time in about twenty years I could not wait to get to work so I could paint. I did learn a lot through books. I painted at least eight hours a day for the next six years. During these six years I had numerous private lessons in portraiture with the prominent painter Marc Chatov.
“The paintings of Yasharel Manzy – abstracts, landscapes, still life and figures
‘Reveal,’ in the artist’s own words, ‘the true beauty of things in life.’ With luminous, vibrant colors and interacting organic shapes, each of his paintings produces a relaxing, peaceful, soothing effect; an oasis away from our daily lives. For the artist, however, they document an ongoing process of doing and undoing, of self-criticism and evolving, of recreating and reinventing himself through his art.”
Irving Finkelstein, Ph. D., Art Historian, Georgia State University.
SELECTED ONE MAN SHOWS
2018 One Person Show, Yasharel, B. Deemer Gallery, Louisville, KY
2017 Yasharel, B. Deemer Gallery, Louisville, KY
2016 Manzy & Yang, Yasharel Manzy, First Floor Gallery, TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2015 Yasharel Manzy, Solo, TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2014 Allison Sprock Fine Art, Charlotte, NC
2013 Left Bank Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
2012 “Visitations and Symbols, Yasharel Manzy, TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2009 Yasharel Manzy, Atlanta Humane society Benefit, TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2008 TEW Galleries, “Yasharel Manzy, One-Man Show,” Atlanta GA
2007 “Manzy, New Works,” TEW Galleries, Atlanta GA
2006 TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2004 Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Megan Candler Gallery, Vero Beach, FL
2003 Bennett Street Gallery
Left Bank Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
2002 Stellers Gallery, Jacksonville, FL
Left Bank Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA 2001
Jules’ Place, Boston, MA
Martha Lincoln Gallery, Vero Beach, FL
2000 Left Bank Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
Stellers Gallery, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
1999 Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Left Bank Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
1998 Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Alliance Francaise, Atlanta, GA
Left Bank Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
1997 Left Bank Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
Stellers, Jacksonville, GA
1996 Left Bank Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
Alliance Frances, Atlanta, GA
Left Bank Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
SELECTED GROUP SHOWS
2022 TEW GAlleries, Salon Style, Atlanta,GA
2021 TEW Galleries, Salon Style, Atlanta, GA
2021 Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
2020 Swan Coach House Gallery, Atlanta, GA
Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
2019 Salon Style, 2020, TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2017 TEW Galleries Salon Show, Atlanta, GA
2009 Six Georgia Abstract Painters, “Celebrating the Abundance of Color,” Swan Coach House
Gallery, curated by Marianne B. Lambert
2008 Huntsville Museum of Fine Art, “Vignette,” June, 2008
Megan Candler Gallery, Vero Beach, FL
2007 TEW Galleries, 20th Anniversary Exhibition. November, 2007
2006 Holiday Show – Small Works, Tew Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2005 Bruns, Bauret-Allard, Tew Galleries, Atlanta, GA
Corporate Collections through Tew Galleries:
Emory University School of Law, Atlanta, GA *
RBC Bank, Atlanta, GA *
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