Meet the Artists: 30 X 30 Featured Exhibition

In celebration of this 30th edition, Affordable Art Fair NYC is pleased to present 30 X 30, a curated collection of work by artists, in partnership with Sentient, working in and around New York City to create engaging and important art that not only speaks to our present, but also highlight our past and help envision our futures. Over the last 30 editions we have seen artists begin their careers and soar to great heights from our fairs and we want to pay it forward by thanking the artists that have made us who we are.

In preparation for the Fall edition of the Affordable Art Fair NYC (September 23 – 26, 2021) we asked all of our 30 X 30 artists to share a little about themselves, their art and their inspirations. Read on to find out more!

JOHN MAZLISH

“My artistic passion involves revealing the extraordinary beauty found in the simplest moments and places. I tend to view the world through a painterly lens, and being a natural born adventurer/explorer, I seek to reveal the essence of light, color, form and emotion in both landscapes and portraiture. My newest passion is fine art nudes.”

CLOD

“I paint what we feel and don’t talk about.”

TED & NUNE

“Ted & Nune are couple in life and lens-based artist- duo. They each studied photography long ago and have backgrounds in International Affairs (Ted) and Russian Literature (Nune). Since 2015, their collaboration has produced several internationally recognized long-term projects. Individuum- 1st place in IPA 2019 Category Architecture Abstract; Desert Agreement -1st place in TIFA 2017 Category Architecture. Their recent pandemic project Crawlspace was exhibited in Foley Gallery in July; Exlab 2021.”

JOSH HARLAN

“The Spectrum Series is inspired by a government chart of frequency allocations by usage type, including radio, television, cellular and satellite communications. The Spectrum Fragments are extrapolated from the US government frequency allocation chart. The artworks are developed digitally, using image viewers like Preview and spreadsheet viewers like Excel to capture or create data visualizations. Fragments or “data cuts” are extracted and signifiers are stripped away to obscure the original function or purpose of the data. The artworks are outputted as digital files and produced as dye sublimation prints on aluminum panels via a 400-degree heat-transfer process. In 2018, Facebook commissioned and acquired a large-scale site-specific installation comprising 8 Spectrum panels. and “Visual displays of information help us make sense of a complex world. While generally designed to be useful or practical rather than aesthetic, data visualizations sometimes yield surprisingly appealing formal qualities when sufficiently abstracted from their original intent. I create geometric abstractions derived from charts, diagrams, and data visualizations related to finance, media, telecommunications, transportation, government, and other sectors. The final works evoke a dual quality: on the one hand, the abstractions harbor strong formal and aesthetic qualities, and on the other hand, they impart a lingering sense, conveyed by the highly structured nature of the resulting images, of significance, a dissonance, or encoded meaning that lies just beyond reach. “

ROBIN KOFFLER

“Robin Koffler is a New York City based artist and designer. Her paintings blend abstract realism with an impressionistic color palette. Robin’s technique of breaking down the forms into shapes, color and light draw the viewer into her scenes.”

KRISTI KOHUT

“Inspired by the marks and patterns that we find in the world all around us: both the natural and the technological. Using mixed media and shimmering, crystalized, layers of color, I am to create work that lifts the viewer out of the everyday and elicits a feeling, a ping, a zing of joy. Further to that, I love to leave the true meaning a bit ambiguous and unclear whether these works reflect contained, finite moments or small snapshots of something larger that continues.”

BRONWYN WHITTLE

“Bronwyn is an Irish artist currently based in Brooklyn, NY. Bronwyn is a multifaceted artist – from touring the US working as an actor and singer to writing and publishing her first book of poetry. During the 2020 Pandemic, Bronwyn turned to painting full-time, designing custom pieces of abstract, geometric art based on the inspirations of each client.”

DANI ROPI

“‘I don’t give a shit’ and ‘Don’t be a dick’ – are statements to remind us to not take anyone’s bullshit and no matter what is going on in the world or around you, it’s just a statement of releasing when you can say out loud that – You don’t care anymore and you will “Take The Risk” and be free, happy, loved and full of hope because LIFE —-> “YOU SMELL LIKE LOVE” ❤️ These are statements I have put down on the streets of NYC in last year and a half. Basically I made them to remind people to be positive, stay strong and never give up in the time that we are living.”

DEB LILJEGREN

“When I am creating, the artwork is a reflection of what I am seeing and feeling — and very logically so. When the piece is done and shown publicly, it’s no longer my vision. Instead, it becomes what the viewer sees and feels — it’s a loss of control.”

LUCA VIGORELLI

“Growing up in NYC, Luca was inspired by street art and the fast paced, ever-changing dynamic of urban life. His work blends elements of street art and the natural world, pulling influences from cubism and neo-expressionism. Luca creates bold, imaginative, and narrative mixed media paintings on canvas using acrylic paint, oil stick and acrylic marker. He has exhibited in NYC, LA and Southampton, NY.”

ROBERTA RUOCCO
“Echoes of Silence Series Everything in my life is noise. Looking at the ocean erases the entirety of it all. Despite being surroundedby a cacophony of rushing waves, lapping against the shoreline, all I hear is silence within. And as I gazeat the horizon, the simplicity of it all clears my mind and I am able to find myself again. Fine.”

MELISSA SCHAINKER
“In routine, linear relationships and found objects… in replayed moments stuck in my mind… in every sunrise and in every spiral I can find… in love and in deep reflective pain, my muse can change and shift, but mostly it is found within myself. Combining surrealism and realism, I create works that depict life and also the subconscious.”

FAUSTIN ADENIRAN

”Through extensive historical research and deep observation of cultural trends, his work takes a critical view of social and political issues. Faustin’s art series reflect elements of the communities he encounters. His vision is to encourage, educate, and inspire positive social impact through his artworks.”

JEREMY WOLFF

“Jeremy Wolff (@jwolffstudios) is a Contemporary Pop Artist residing in New York City. Wolff blends iconic imagery with a street art style, often using mixed media such as oil, acrylic, and aerosol paint in his work. Since 2015, Wolff has collaborated with several brands and galleries throughout the world that include The Empire State Building, Tommy Hilfiger, Montefiore Hospital, and more.”

YANA USHAKOVA

“Yana Ushakova (1987-) is a Brooklyn based artist working in oil. The two pieces featured in this show explore tensions and power dynamics of relationships between people living together in quarantine in 2020-21.”

Thank you so much to all of our 30 X 30 artists and sharing more about their practice and inspirations! There’s so much to experience at an Affordable Art Fair so be sure to get your tickets today for our 30th edition of the New York fair – purchase your tickets here!

Main Image: Dani Ropi, I Love Dani Ropi, 2021, NFT Digital art, 0.5 ETH ($1,781).

1. John Mazlish, Pacific Surf, 2017, Fine Art Photo printed on dye sublimated aluminum, 32 x 48in., $4400.
2. CLoD, Connected, 2021, Acrylic and oil sticks on canvas, 48 x 60in., $7,200.
3. Ted & Nune, Individuum: Studio, 2019, Photograph printed on metallic and mounted on artboard, 16 x 24in., Edition 1 of 10, $1,200.
4. Josh Harlan, Spectrum Fragment 2D, 2017, Dye sublimation print on aluminum panel, Edition of 5, 48 x 48in., $9,000.
5. Kristi Kohut, Symphonic World 3, 2020, Mixed media, diameter: 40 in., $4,750.
6. Robin Koffler, Purple Clouds, 2021, Oil on canvas, 30 x 30in., $2,950.
7. Bronwyn Whittle, The Swanson Order, 2020, Acrylic on canvas, 16 x 20in., $800
8. Dani Ropi, Tears from Heaven, 2021, Digital art – mixed media, 30 x 40 in., $2,000.
9. Deborah Liljegren, What is Happening?, 2020, Mixed Media (glass and acrylic on birch panel), 48 x 24in., $2,000.
10. Luca Vigorelli, Damaged Goods, 2017, Mixed media on canvas, 36 x 36 in., $3,800.
11. Roberta Ruocco, Echoes of Silence, 2018, Dye sublimation onto aluminum prints, Inquire for sizes, editions and pricing.
12. Melissa Schainker, Guilt, 2021, Oil and spray on canvas, 48 x 48in., $3,500
13. Faustin Adeniran, Everyday People Series (Portrait), 2021, Aluminum cans, 21 x 19in., $3,200.
14. Jeremy Wolff, Snoopy X Balloon Mash Up, 2021, Mixed media on wood panel with epoxy resin finish, 30 x 30in., $3,000.
15. Yana Ushakova, Abraxas 20, 2021, Oil on canvas, 48 x 48in., $3,600.