RECENT EVENTS - A portrait of the divine Dita Von Teese created by OLAN was auctioned on May 16th, 2007 at the The Museum
of Sex first annual Gala to benefit The Muse Foundation of New York, Inc., featuring a special performance by Dita Von Teese!
"she is more divine and charming than anyone could imagine...I am now forever captured," states Olan. The painting went for
a great price to raise funds for the Sex Museum event with hosts Perez Hilton and Dita who gave an incredible performance.
Sales and commissions can be arranged through Vogel Pop with Stacy at 908 - 642 - 7465.
"I create my paintings from my own photographs. They are a combination of my photos handpainted on canvas.
My work has a simple message: see the individual through color and light. by doing so, one's individuality can be more fully
understood.
It is a visual stimulation to remind people to simply
look at one another and see through the layers of a complex personality. In our world today fame and pop stardom are sometimes
reduced to “5 seconds of fame”. In some respects we can blame (or thank) the mass media for contributing to a
jaded social value of “been there, done that”.
Regardless, my work is an effort to capture an essence within that fleeting context and place it into a perpetual freezeframe.
why can’t a nano-second last forever?"
OLAN 2007
Olan's works have been featured in MAR Magazine, July 2007 "Art Stars," NY Arts Magazine, March 2006 in an article entitled
"You bring light in", The New York Times in 2003 in article entitled "Tellers in Tangerine" and Chicago Arts and entertainment
in 2002 article entitled, "Humanitarian Olan sees every individual with wings."
CLICK TO ENLARGE! NY TIMES REVIEW 2002
"Tellers in Tangerine" by Laurel Gross about artist Olan
news articles and editorials
CLICK to ENLARGE Anne Hathaway by OLAN
Olan art on the July-Aug 2006 ART ISSUE of MAR Magazine! click the image below to read the article!!
CLICK TO ENLARGE AND READ 'ART STARS'
FEATURE in SUMMER 2006 (July - Aug) Issue of MAR MAGAZINE about artist Olan
Oct. 13, 2006 - Performance artist Courtney Love acquires New York Pop artist Olan's work of the celebrity this week through
Ward-Nasse Gallery.
"It is the greatest gift for an artist's work to speak to its' subject and I am honored by Ms. Love's response to my work
of her. She is captivating and an inspiration to me," states New York Pop artist Olan concerning Courtney Love's recent purchase
of a painting depicting the celebrity by the fine artist from Ward-Nasse Gallery in New York.
The art work of Ms. Love was part of a solo exhibition of Olan's work entitled 'Metamorphosis' held at Ward-Nasse Gallery
in June 2006. Three works of Ms. Love were included in the show along with paintings of such notables as Anne Hathaway, Kelly
Osbourne, RuPaul, Alan Cumming, Rufus Wainwright, Lipsynka, Linda Evangelista, Erin Wasson, and Boy George. Ms. Love contacted
the gallery during the exhibition to deliberate on which work to purchase. She finalized the details of the art purchase this
week.
Olan's art works are created from his own photos of his subjects through digital art combined with hand-painting on canvas.
The artist's work is a visual stimulation to remind people to simply look at one another and see through the layers of a complex
personality. According to Olan, "In our world today fame and pop stardom are sometimes reduced to '5 seconds of fame,' In
some respects we can blame [or thank] the mass media for contributing to a jaded social value of 'been there, done that.'
Regardless, my work is an effort to capture an essence within that fleeting context and place it into a perpetual freeze-frame."
Olan is also known for his tribute to local bank tellers at Chase Manhattan in New York written about by the New York Times
in an article entitled "Tellers in Tangerine" published in 2003 where the artist created art about a segment of society asking
the viewer to simply "look more closely at the individual standing beside you."
Olan further states about his art, "My work has a simple message: see the individual through color and light. By doing so,
one's individuality can be more fully understood."
Inquiries can be made by telephoning the Ward-Nasse Gallery at 212-925-6951.
Concerning the purchase of the art through Ward-Nasse Gallery, located in Soho in New York, Olan adds, "The fact that Ms.
Love purchased the work through a non-conventional gallery that exhibits new and innovative art to the general public that
might not otherwise be seen speaks highly to me as an artist." Ward-Nasse Gallery is known as a non-profit alternative space
for art run by staff members and artists who volunteer much of their time.
"Courtney Love is a true Pop Icon of our society today; a living work of art representative of our time to be long remembered,"
says Olan.
"I say that the ordinary man who comes before a painting, frankly and generously ready to yield himself up to the impression
that the artist has sought to arouse in his senses through his vision, will feel the significance of that art much more purely
and fully than the critic who has set up for himself an elaborate code of laws founded on the achievement of one or two great
masters, which the standard he applies to every work of art in a calculated and death-dealing manner which destroys his capacity
to receive its real significance.
In short, the expert, by book-learning and by science, may come to a wide knowledge of the history of a painting of it's
maker; but he has no gifts whereby he senses the real significance of that work of art a whit better than the ordinary man,
who often endowed with superb and exquisite perception of the music that is in colour and line and mass.
It is as fatuous to measure the art of a Boucher or Chardin by the art of a Michelangelo or a Rembrant, as it is to measure
that art of a Velazquez by the art of a Turner. The sole significance is as to whether an artist, by the wizardry of his
skill, has created the impression upon our senses that he desired to create. If he shall have done so, then for us who sense
it, he is a creator; if he shall have failed, then for us whom he fails to reach he does not exist as an artist." -
Haldane Macfall.
