A special artist’s reception and meet & greet will be held on Thursday, March 17 from 7-9 p.m. at The Village Theater that is free and open to the public.
Artist Jean-Paul moved to the United States at a young age from overseas in 1987. Due to civil unrest and economic strife, his family decided to move to the U.S. in pursuit of a more secure and stable life. Here he discovered that his potential as an artist would flourish as he witnessed inspiration which ignited his creativity. If one looks at his work, one would find an earnest testimony of exploration through the fleeting glimpses of the figure’s truest nature. Aboudib is an artist of intent and purpose. His vivacious color palette and expressive gestures in his paintings embody a sense of unvarnished human emotion and an unmistakable understanding of the figure. His work examines the interplay between what the body conceals and reveals.
“I’ve always had an immense passion for art and considered myself blessed to be able to manifest my creativity”, says Jean-Paul. All throughout his childhood and adolescence, he engaged in drawing and painting, utilizing various mediums ranging from graphite and charcoal to oils and acrylics. He also explored a myriad of conceptual subject matter which he galvanized from his new environment.
In 1997, Jean-Paul decided to pursue his artistic endeavors in an academic capacity. He earned a scholarship out of high school in the drawing and painting department at The College for Creative Studies located in Detroit Michigan. After earning his BFA, he went on to achieve an MFA in painting from Wayne State University where he turned his attention to the figure. Jean-Paul’s current paintings embody a saturated color palette and a painterly approach culled from a variation of expressive realism. His articulation of the figure is quite exquisite in its interpretation of form and anatomy, allowing his subject’s vulnerability and expression to prevail. His work employs not only the technical traditions of classical anatomy and the convincing representation of the figure, but also the multiple psychological complexities, yet subtle nature of his subjects.
Jean-Paul has exhibited his work in various galleries, including the Alden B. Dow Museum, The Forum Gallery at The Cranbrook Academy of Arts, the historic Scarab Club and The Alfred Berkowits Gallery at The University of Michigan. In addition, he has been the recipient of numerous awards and honors including honorable mentions, merit awards and best in shows in juried art competitions. In 2011, he was the recipient of the Best in Show award at The Cherry Hill Village Theater and Gallery for the annual state wide juried competition. Most recently, Jean-Paul was a visiting artist at The Dancing Dog Gallery in Ann Arbor, MI. He has lectured extensively about his work’s technique and conceptual inspirations at various venues including Madonna University and The Three Cities Art Club. Jean-Paul is currently represented by the reputable Artful Home Gallery, an online gallery representing over 1,400 artists across North America. His work can be viewed at www.artfulhome.com. For inquiries regarding custom commissions and purchasing original art, please contact virgo12.arts@gmail.com or (734)262-2444
This current art exhibit at the Gallery@VT is free and open to the public: Monday – Friday 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., one hour prior to and during public performances at the theater, as well as by appointment. The Gallery@VT is closed on holidays. The gallery is located at 50400 Cherry Hill Rd., Canton, MI, 48187. For more information about this latest exhibit, please call 734/394-5300 or visit www.cantonvillagetheater.org.
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Media Contact: Jennifer Tobin, Canton Arts Coordinator - 734/394-5484.