"One must recreate or reinvent oneself through art. Each painting tells the story of who one is at that particular moment. It is like stopping time and bringing ones emotions to a state of permanence."
Yasharel Manzy
"The paintings of Yasharel Manzy - landscapes, figurative and abstract 'reveal," in the artist's own words, 'the true beauty of things in life.' With the luminous, vibrant colors and interacting organic shapes, each of his paintings produces a relaxing, peaceful, soothing effect; an oasis away from our daily lives. The scenes evoke in us a desire to be there! For the artist, however, they document an ongoing process of doing and undoing, of self-criticism and evolving, or recreating and reinventing himself through his paintings."
Art Historian
Georgia State University
About Artist
Yasharel Manzy was born in the ancient Jewish ghetto of Esfahan, Iran, in 1947. He immigrated to the United States at the age of twenty-one. After twenty years of doing many different types of work, Yasharel was overwhelmed by the need for artistic expression, and finally at the age of forty, he abandoned his last business to devote himself to painting. He began traveling extensively and was especially taken with the landscapes of southern France and Italy’s Tuscany area. These dramatic vistas became his muse and from time to time he is drawn back to revisit them.
Yasharel is primarily a self-taught intuitive painter who gains inspiration from both the world around him and his deep love of classical music. His paintings touch upon the emotional core that we each hold within us.
Yasharel has been exhibiting regularly in Atlanta for more than twenty-six years. He has had over forty solo exhibitions in galleries in the United States.
Artist's Statement
When I was six years old I tried to copy one of Raphael's drawings. The result of the drawing gave me such exaltation that I could not sleep that night. I could not wait until I showed the drawing to my teacher the next day. My very first experience in painting was at the age of thirteen during the summer vacation. I would spend long afternoons doing watercolors. The subject matter was mostly the scenes of the city. I attempted to paint again at the age of thirty-three. Then to my dislike due to the quality of the paintings and my lack of experience, I abandoned painting once again. I suppose due to the lack of patience I always wanted to be able to paint without going through the pain of schools and learning.
Then came the winter of 1990. While strolling through a gallery a painting with a French scene caught my attention. There I was glued to the floor and frozen. A few moments later this incredible feeling overwhelmed me. I found myself at the crossroads of my life, and I knew there was no turning back. At that time I was a partner in a business in Atlanta. To be able to change my banal way of life and go where my heart was that afternoon I decided to change my ways and to become a painter. Now it is very clear that I almost had no part in the transformation that was taking place that day.
The following day I changed my office from a place of business into a studio. For the first time in twenty years I could not wait to get to work so I could paint. I did learn through books and frequenting great museums of the world. I painted at least eight hours a day for the next six years. Then I was capable of standing alone, and I became a full-time painter. As a self-taught painter I have had the utmost difficulties learning since I am a terrible teacher and an impatient student. His paintings have sold throughout the world.
Recent Article
Yasharel - The Atlantan | Modern Luxury - Atlanta March 2012 - ModernLuxury.com
Selected One Man Shows
2018: B. Deemer, Louisville, KY2015: TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2014: TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2014: Allison Sprock Fine Art, Charlotte, NC
2013: TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2013: Left Bank Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
2012: TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2010: TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2010: Yasharel Manzy Studio, Atlanta, GA. to benefit The Stumpe Foundation
2009: TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA to benefit the Atlanta Humane Society
2008: TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2007: TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2006: TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2006: Beverly McNeil Gallery, Birmingham, AL
2006: Left Bank Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
2005: TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2005: Left Bank Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
2004: Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2004: Meghan Candler Gallery, Vero Beach, FL
2003: Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2003: Left Bank Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
2003: Gallery 1401, Chattanooga, TN
2003: Beverly McNeil Gallery, Destin, FL
2002: Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2002: Stellers Gallery, Jacksonville, FL
2002: Left Bank Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
2002: Jules Place, Boston, MS
2001: Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2001: Martha Lincoln Gallery, Vero Beach, FL
2001: Lyons View Gallery, Knoxville, TN
2000: Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2000: Stellers Gallery, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
2000: Left Bank Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
1999: Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1999: Left Bank Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
1998: Alliance Francaise, Atlanta, GA
1998: Bennett Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1998: Left Bank Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
1997: Stellers Gallery, Jacksonville, FL
1997: Left Bank Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
1996: Left Bank Art Gallery, St. Simons Island, GA
1996: Alliance Francaise, Atlanta, GA
1993: Rosemont Galleries, Wilmington, NC
1991: Arts Connection, Atlanta, GA
Select Two Man Shows
2016: TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA2008: Huntsville Museum of Fine Art, Huntsville, AL
2008: Meghan Candler Fine Art, Vero Beach, FL
Selected Group Shows
2019: TEW Galleries, Salon Style Show, Atlanta, GA2019: Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
2018: B. Deemer Christmas Show Small Works, Louisville, KY
2017: TEW Galleries, Salon Show, Atlanta, GA
2016: Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
2017: Huntsville Museum of Fine Art, Huntsville, AL
2016: Huntsville Museum of Fine Art, Huntsville, AL
2015: Huntsville Museum of Fine Art, Huntsville, AL
2015: Landscape Show - TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2014: Landscape Show - TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2014: Abstract Show - TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2014: Huntsville Museum of Fine Art, Huntsville, AL
2014: Swan Coach House, Atlanta, GA
2013: Pryor Fine Art, Atlanta, GA
2013: Huntsville Museum of Fine Art, Huntsville, AL
2012: Guinlan Visual Arts Center, Gainesville, GA
2012: Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
2011: Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
2010: Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
2009: Small Works - TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2009: Huntsville Museum of Art, Huntsville, AL
2009: Swan Coach House, Atlanta, GA
2009: Small Works - Meghan Candler Gallery, Vero Beach, FL
2008: Meghan Candler Gallery, Vero Beach, FL
2008: Huntsville Museum of Fine Art, Huntsville, AL
2007: 20th Anniversary - TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2007: Huntsville Museum of Fine Art, Huntsville, GA
2006: Holiday Small Works - TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2005: TEW Galleries, Atlanta, GA
2000: Alliance Francaise, Atlanta, GA