Hamptons-Based Gallery To Fête Winners Of Online Juried Contest In “Positive Space”

The White Room Gallery is welcoming a new exhibit, Positive Space to Bridgehampton for two weeks.

The exhibit, which opens on Wednesday, May 16, features work that bring together “personalities, mediums, perspectives and, of course, talent.” The artists on display are the winners of The White Room Gallery’s online juried contest. Alicia Gitlitz, Cindy Press, Seek One, and StrosbergMandel will present work highlighted as “Mixed Media. Painting. Electric. Figuratively and Literally.”

A piece by Cindy Press.

“My artwork is a tribute to how awe inspiring nature can be with its endless opportunities to express emotion,” Gitlitz said. “The world is a blank canvas waiting to be painted and I can see all of the possibilities in my mind’s eye.” Inspired by her love of nature and passion for travel, her work features vibrant colors that reflect happy moods. Gitlitz’s pieces have been displayed at exhibitions all over Long Island and Manhattan, including the Brooklyn Botanical Cherry Blossom Festival, East Hampton Artist Alliance, and Tripani Art Gallery.

Press is known for her successful career as fashion designer, transferring paintings, most notably by Peter Max, into wearable art. The fashion industry has since held her captive; most of her renderings are images of women. “My original goal was to create paintings that are simply striking and beautiful, getting back to my roots of fashion illustration,” Press reflected, but her focus changed as she reflected deeply into her own personal life. “There is so much more behind a person’s appearance,” she continued. “Through the cult of beauty in contemporary mass media I am investigating the psychological complexity of women.” Press has been featured in Artmaze Magazine, as well as listed as one of the top 100 best American sellers by Artfinder.com.

Seek One is a Philadelphia native, writing graffiti under a pen name. After facing charges for vandalism in 2015 for street art, he transitioned to canvas. His work represents a mixed media style by combining photography and graffiti, largely influenced by Andy Warhol, that expresses the power of pop culture and fine art combined. His work is unique in that every piece is done on handmade wool. His goal is to “bring unique pieces of fine art that everyone can connect with” and “make Seek One a brand that all clients and followers can relate to.”

Serge Strosberg and David Mandel team up to create pieces that take the German and Flemish visual language aesthetic and combine it with fantasy jewelry and fabric design. The unlikely mix creates a contemporary mix, representing a beauty and darkness in the fragility of life. Prior work includes the Swarovski design in Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show (Mandel) and an exhibit near the Olympic games in Shanghai at the Zendai Art Museum (Strosberg).

Positive Space will remain on display through Monday, May 28. The opening reception will be held on Saturday, May 18 from 6 to 8 pm.

The White Room Gallery is located at 2415 Main Street in Bridgehampton. For more information visit, www.thewhiteroom.gallery or call 631-237-1481.