Born in Tibet and raised in Dharamsala, India, Pema Rinzin uses centuries-old thangka techniques to create contemporary works. The result are fresh, gorgeous renderings in ground mineral pigments, Sumi ink, and gold. Rinzin’s personal charge is to bring an education on Tibetan art to the public and schools across the world.
Rinzin’s mastery of the form comes from tutelage under the likes of Kalsang Oshoe, Khepa Gonpo, Rigdzin Paljor, and others. He now teaches those techniques and applications himself, along with several other disciplines. As for his Western influences, he cites William Blake, Gustav Klimt, and Wassily Kandinsky. Rinzin started the New York Tibetan Art Studio in 2007, offering a voice and education venue for a form rarely taught in the States.
Rinzin’s own work is really an adaption of thangka, which traditionally had paintings on cotton or silk applique. While the classical subjects may be mandalas, deities, or religions scenes with meditational purposes, Rinzin’s work diverges into new explorations, yet still reflect his spirituality. He explains his rendering of birds in a statement: “Since mankind was born, wings have been one of the most inspirational symbols… In Tibetan philosophy in particular, the enlightened beings have wings. All of these paintings are a solid inspiration about a universe of joy.”
Conveying elapsed time and bombastic energy, Mitchell Villa’s process involves long strokes and motions that use his entire body. The self-taught painter depicts scenes that range from Biblical allusions to horror to intimate domestic portraits. Works like the triptych "Dinner Party" show the artist’s penchant for controlled cacophony.
Joao Ruas brings his striking, ghostly paintings to Thinkspace Projects with the new show “Knots.” The show, running through Jan. 4 at the space, collects both new mixed-media and acylic paintings, as well as drawings from the artist. The artist was featured on our site 
In Oliver Vernon's new abstract works at an upcoming KIRK Gallery show, the artist abandons collage entirely and pushes his work forward only using acrylics. "Brushing Away the Veil," starting on Nov. 2, represents a new body of work and direction for the Brooklynite. There’s another new component to the works, as well, as Vernon says “is the excavation of buried paint layers through sanding. Since many of these pieces have had numerous stages of accumulation, they were like gold mines of hidden color.”
Jolene Lai returns to Thinkspace Projects with a new collection of eerie paintings. The aptly named "The Beautiful Haunting," starting on Sept. 14, brings her sensibility, seemingly informed by pop mediums and children’s stories to the gallery walls. The painter has a rare ability to evoke the same sense of mystery and danger in settings absent of human occupants. Lai was last featured on our website