Hessam Abrishami

HESSAM

Born in the city of Shiraz, Iran in 1951, Hessam Abrishami was the son of middle-class parents; one of eight brothers and sisters. He attended public schools in his home city of Shiraz until his graduation from high school, after which he served in his country’s military service for two years.

It was not until he was 15 years of age that, through the inspiration and encouragement of a high school teacher who was himself an artist, Hessam discovered both his love of art and his talent for painting. He soon became obsessed with painting.

While Hessam devoted his major effort to painting, he also seriously studied related types of art, including calligraphy and architecture-both of which he credits with making major contributions to the development of his art.

At 17, Hessam received his first award for painting. A year later he won top honors in painting in a national student competition in Iran. At 19, he achieved first-place honors in the “Iranian New Artists Competition.”

After his military service, Hessam decided to go to Italy-“the center of art in Europe” to study. He completed a Master’s Degree in Fine Arts at the Accademi De Belle Arti “Pietro Vanucci”in Perugia. Although he pursued his love of portraiture by concentrating on realistic painting and special studies in anatomy, he also developed his talent further by studying other styles-impressionism, surrealism, cubism, and modernism.

During his stay in Iran, Hessam collaborated with a friend on a book of paintings and poetry titled Screams. Its powerful religious and political over tones proved to unacceptable to the Iranian government and Hessam soon left for Italy and eventually, the United States.

He didn’t set out to use bright colors, they just came out. He didn’t give any direction to his paintings. Any colors he used just come from his feelings.

He likes working with the human figure. A woman’s body has more flexibility, more movement, and he can work with that. He works better with a women figure than a man’s.
Vibrant colors, dynamic composition and powerful expression go hand in hand with imagination and expert craftsmanship to create works of amazing depth and dimension which are at once both intriguing and disarming to the viewer.