Children's Home Society of Florida

Jared Seff

Famous since age 12 for his realistic and beautiful portraits of celebrities, Jared Seff of Weston, Fla., has a gift that’s been nationally recognized. In the beginning of his artistic career, one of his paintings auctioned for $11,000 to benefit Adopt-A-Minefield. His portraits of Tony Bennett and former President Bill Clinton have even impressed the subjects themselves. In fact, Jared’s portrait of Bill Clinton hangs in the halls of the Bill Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Ark., while his Tony Bennett portrait is featured at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. Jared’s impressive talent earned him a visit on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, and his work is owned and/or recognized by several celebrities including Tony Dow, Paul McCartney, Oprah Winfrey and Elijah Wood.

Noemi

Born in Warsaw, Poland, Noemi Kosmowski comes from a family with three generations of professional artists. Her father, Zdzislaw Lachur, is best known throughout Poland and Europe for his paintings of Polish Jewish Holocaust survivors. Noemi apprenticed under her father for more than a decade before moving to Germany with her husband, Kristof. There, she refined her techniques and hosted several private shows. Since relocating to South Florida, Noemi has developed an amazing style of realism. Her passion encompasses images from nature, large in scale and reflective of a vibrant color palette. From strawberries in a reflective cup to olives in a martini glass, Noemi truly brings her paintings to life.

Art Featured: Amsterdam Whitney Gallery, New York City; Andy Roddick Foundation; Private Collections in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Colorado, Finland, Germany, France, Poland and Australia

Kristof

Originally from Warsaw, Poland, Kristof Kosmwoski received a Master’s in Graphic Design from the Warsaw Academy of Arts. Upon moving to Hamburg, Germany, in 1985, he began developing his unique style of painting while selling his works to private collectors throughout Europe. As a former professional athlete and accomplished musician, Kristof incorporates his passions into his art. His canvases provide a momentary glimpse into the joy of music and sports through his vibrant use of color and movement.

Art Featured: Private collections in New York, New Jersey, Florida and Colorado; National Collections in Spain, New Zealand, Finland and the National Museum in Warsaw, Poland

Yaacov Heller

Yaacov Heller is an internationally known sculptor, jeweler and silversmith who refined his fine craft in Israel. He’s earned recognition from world leaders, statesmen, entertainers, movie stars and fine art collectors. Commissioned to create historically significant gifts for kings and queens, presidents, prime ministers, and other international dignitaries, much of Yaacov's inspiration comes from the Bible's most dramatic events. He then produces them in a variety of media including pewter, silver, bronze and gold. He can currently be seen on the QVC television network showcasing jewelry inspired by the beauty of nature.

Art Featured: Commissioned works owned by Ronald Reagan, Gerald Ford, George Bush, Bill Clinton, Margaret Thatcher, Henry Kissinger, Hosni Mubarak, Benjamin Netanyahu, Shimon Peres, Jacque Chirac, Yitzhak Rabin and Anwar Sadat. Outdoor monumental sculptures: The 12-foot "Fiddler On The Roof" at Douglas Gardens in Miami, Fla.; The "Celebration" at the Toppel Center For Life Enhancement; a 7-foot bronze sculpture at the Boca Raton Museum at Mizner Park; and "Israelites Vs. The Philistines" famous chess display at the National Chess Hall of Fame and Sidney Samole Chess Museum.

Jonatas Silva Chimen

Influenced by artists of the Renaissance and the Spanish realistic style, Jonatas Silva Chimen’s paintings capture the true beauty of humans and objects. Jonatas has been recognized as one of the top Brazilian artists in South Florida, where he founded The Center for the Fine Arts in Boca Raton. There, he instructs aspiring artists in his traditional European style of painting. After receiving recognition for his creative drawing skills at the Art Vernissage of the nationally recognized Centro Livre de Artes of the Bosque dos Buritis when he was 12, Jonatas continued developing his talent for realism with internationally renowned Graphic Novelist Edgar Franco.

NAZA

As one of the best known Brazilian artists in America and the creator of Abstracted Realism, Naza has displayed her work in major art galleries and museums throughout the United States and Europe. She’s gained fame through her amazing integration of opposites: abstraction and realism. Her contemporary art is imaginative, powerful and unprecedented in style, showcased in leading books, newspapers, magazines and television networks. Naza and her work have been featured in Who’s Who, Museum and Arts Magazine, CBS News, Fox Network, Globo Television Network and The New York Daily News. Her latest honors are the Croix D’argent of “Lemerite et Devoument Frnçais,” the Key to The City of Boca Raton, and a Proclamation by the Brazilian Senate. Her published biography was written by journalist Suzane Jales. Though she finds incredible inspiration with wildlife and figurative art, including nudes and portraits, Naza can paint almost any subject, always incorporating her famous abstract touch.

Art Featured: Private collection of President Bill Clinton, President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, Ivana Trump, Ayrton Senna Foundation, Brigitte Bardot, The West Point Museum, Emerson Fitipaldi, Countess De Hoernle, the Florida Marlins, and the Cornell Museum of Art and History.

Julio C. Garcia

Art collectors love Julio Garcia’s colorful and symbolic paintings because they evoke strong emotions with a mere glance. His unique figures bear asymmetrical eyes with contorted hands and feet as he prefers to feature court jesters and musicians in an array of colors. “My paintings come from deep within...they are an invitation to travel into the inner landscape of themselves,” says Julio. Described as "surrealistic" and "ancient,” he provides a three-dimensional view for admirers by raising various areas of the work with layers of paint, seen in many of his magnificent pieces.

Marco Figueiredo

The works of Marco Figueiredo, signed MAF, offer an interesting unity for admirers. The expressive abstractions, when displayed as an ensemble, fit together in an enlightening sequence, providing collectors with unique opportunities to showcase a single magnificent piece or an entire suite. Marco’s passion for colors comes from his “early ages” and has continued to grow. His phenomenal talent conveys fragments of cultures from the countries he’s lived in and, with sensibility and passion, creates paintings full of energy, personality and intense beauty. Marco studied art in Brazil, Miami and Paris.

Art Featured: Group Exhibitions: 2000 – Wintersession - Caston Iron, New York; 1999 – Army Historical Museum, Rio de Janeiro; 1997 – 2nd National Art Show; 1996 – Brazilian Society of Fine Arts, Rio de Janeiro Collections: Starbucks Coffee Company - Headquarters in Seattle; Gold Coffee Company, Florida; Swiss House, Switzerland; Shell do Brazil Private Collections: Rio de Janeiro, New York, Paris, Sweden, Denmark, London, Bern

J. Price Garner

J. Price Garner, a self-taught artist and metal smith, studied under noted goldsmiths Harold O’Connor and Tim McCreigh. He’s been a professional artist since 1982, excelling in watercolor, pastel, acrylic and precious metals. He and his wife opened their first art gallery in Cashiers, N.C., and later moved the gallery to Breckenridge, Colo. His work has progressed from jewelry and Southwestern and African masks of copper to large sculptures of iron. J.P. is best known for his unique way of finishing wall iron sculptures, as he paints them with enamels and embellishes them with chemical patinas, gilder’s paste and powdered metals. J.P.’s jewelry is a marriage of metals like stainless steel, cold-rolled steel and copper.

Joarez

Collectors have called Joarez’s work “Art of the XXI Century.” With delicate colors and spontaneous strokes, Joarez expresses strength, passion and faith, putting life into his paintings. After learning to draw at age 5 in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Joarez moved to Japan and began selling his art. Combining Brazilian culture and Japanese tradition, Joarez creates unique bodies and figures that embody the best of both worlds. His paintings have been compared to those of Van Gogh.

Art Featured: Prominence in Drawing and Artistic Creations, São Paulo, Brazil, 1978; City of São Paulo, participation as eminent student, São Paulo, Brazil, 1980; Drawing classes – School of Design and Arts, S. J. Campos, Brazil, 1983; Prominence in artistic work creations, S. J. Campos, Brazil, 1983-1986; Arts and Crafts, S. J. Campos, Brazil, 1984-1987; Arts and Creations, S. J. Campos, Brazil, 1988; Technical Sketches for Yamaha Motors, Kakegawa, Japan, 1994-1995; Graphite and Pastel (Portraits), Yokkaichi, Japan, 1998-2001; Pastel (Portraits), S. J. Campos, Brazil, 2001; Oil (Impressionism), S. J. Campos, Brazil, 2001; Oil (Landscape), S. J. Campos, Brazil, 2001; Spring Art Exposition, City Hall of Taubaté, Brazil, 2001; VII Group Art Show, by Clélia Maluf, S. J. Campos, Brazil, 2001; Special Oil Portrait, London, UK, 2002; I YMCA Art Show, S. J. Campos, Brazil, 2002; Oil and Charcoal (Portraits), São Paulo, Brazil, 2002; Acrylic and Mixed (Abstract), S. J. Campos, Brazil, 2002; Art Show of Ruthi Tiba, Guest Artistl, S. J. Campos, Brazil, 2002; Live Painting Show, Colinas Mall, S. J. Campos, Brazil, 2003; Winter Festival, Casa Amarela (Art Gallery), Campos do Jordão, Brazil, 2003; Exposition at Valter Morais Art Gallery, Coral Gables, Fla., 2003; Exposition at City Hall of Boca Raton, Fla., 2003; Exposition at the Consulate of Colombia, Miami, Fla., 2004; Art Market Place. Delray Beach, Fla., 2004; S. Barad Fine Art, Pompano Beach, Fla., 2005; Printvillage Gallery. Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 2005; Art Connection Gallery. Pompano Beach, Fla., 2005; Waters & Colors Gallery, Lincoln Road, Miami, Fla., 2005; Linda Turkey Gallery, Boca Raton, Fla., 2005; Sawgrass Mills Gallery, Plantation, Fla., 2005; Decor Unlimited Galleries, Miami, Fla., 2006; DGLM Gallery, Philadelphia, Pa., 2006; Paradise Art, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 2006; West Bay Fine Art, Missouri City, Mo., 2006; Gemini Fine Art, Las Olas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla., 2006

Harry McCormick

Though Harry McCormick has been internationally recognized for his real-life depiction of the interiors of bars and taverns, he explains that he just paints what he sees. Originally from Boca Raton, he’s fascinated by the subtle lighting of bars and has a longtime interest in antiques. Since he didn’t have enough space in his New York studio to collect these treasures, he began painting them years ago. Harry also has a knack for making a simple bottle or garbage can intriguing. His work also includes people featured in parks and assorted other settings, all of which are to be admired. His work has been exhibited in several galleries across the country and currently has seven galleries nationwide displaying his paintings.

Art Featured: Brooklyn Museum, New York; Newark Museum, New Jersey; The University of Southern Illinois; Jessie Besser Museum, Michigan; Charles B. Goddard Arts Center, Ardmore, Okla.; Griffith Art Center, St. Lawrence University, Canton, NY; Canton Art Institute, Canton, Ohio; Charles Rand Penny Foundation, New York, NY; Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.; Farleigh Dickinson University, Rutherford, NJ; Syracuse University Collection, Syracuse, NY; Vatican Collection, Rome, Italy; St. Mary’s College of Maryland; University of Wyoming, Laramie; Birmingham Museum of Art, Alabama; Wichita State University Collection, Kansas; American Thermoplastic Company, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Sen. Ted Kennedy; Collection of Mel Brooks and Ann Bancroft; Guggenheim Museum, New York, NY

George Torjussen

George Torjussen’s surreal depiction of Hollywood scenes has made him famous, won many awards and has been sold in more than 73 galleries in the United States. Born in Brooklyn, NY, George spent much of his youth immersed in the fantasy and romantic escapism of movie palaces. After serving in the Air Force during the Korean War, he used idealistic art to escape the harsh realities he’d witnessed. As a longtime member of the Boca Raton Museum Artist's Guild, George's work has been seen in several shows at its Gallery in Mizner Park.

Francisco Monteavaro

Cuban born Francisco Monteavaro served as an apprentice to Venezulan Miguel VonDangel, where he developed his own trademark style mixing together abstract, primitive and modern works to create beautiful and unique pieces. He’s created his impressive works with canvas and wood, oils, enamels and mixed media. Through colors and shapes, Francisco reflects his experiences throughout life, his imagination and his passion for creating. He has also been named an Artist of the Month for Viernes Culturales.

Art featured: The Great Florida Bank, Miami Fla.; The Latin Quarter Cultural Center; The Hispanic Heritage Exhibition

Marta Gentile

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Marta Gentile’s work has a surreal majestic quality that can be seen in murals, artistic screens and canvas. Marta first developed her skill with her mother, also an artist, and then fine-tuned it as she studied at Buenos Aires Bellas Artes University. After learning additional techniques from great teachers like Horacio D’Angelis and Eduardo Santarciero, Marta moved to Brazil and found success as she showcased her painting on canvas, porcelain and ceramic. Her works are in private and public collections throughout Europe and South America.

Julian Bravo

Julian Bravo’s sculptures showcase beauty in form and design, illustrated in glass and bronze. After developing his artistic technique at Escuela Nacional de Artes Plasticas in Mexico City, Julian worked with the Ponzanelli sculptor creating works such as A La Juventud, located in Monterrey, and Nuevo Leon, El Beso, El Despertar, Los Coyotes, La Mesitza, and La Madre all of which are located in Mexico City. His other collaborations with Ponzanelli sculptors have produced an actual-size bust of Mexican President Miguel De La Madrid Hurtado for the presidential palace. Julian has also worked with artist Tomas Gondi in several works including Serenata A La Luna and La Discordia. Julian’s own creations are based on themes from Greek mythology, anatomical studies and interpretations of classical dance through art. His unique work captures the fleeting qualities and movements of this cultural expression. Julian has had broad international showings and is represented in many private and public collections in Mexico and elsewhere.

Armando Amaya

Sculptor Armando Amaya is one of Mexico’s great interpreters of the female body, as he incorporates European and indigenous esthetics. Born in Mexico City in 1935, Armando studied at the Nation School of Painting and Sculpture under Jose Ruiz and Francisco Zuniga. In addition to his formal training, Armando learned from his environment; his sensitivity to nature taught him reverence for growth, developing and unfolding shapes. Today, Armando works directly from the model, providing a dignified and graceful portrayal of the female body. By melding the Mexican figurative movement with a modernist experimentation, Armando’s sensual figures maintain a constant tension between inner spirituality and ideal strength.

Victor Manuel Villarreal

Known as the “Sculptor of Ballerinas,” Victor Manuel Villarreal de la Vega’s vocation as a sculptor was defined by watching the restoration of "El Ángel de la Independencia," a famous sculpture at the heart of Mexico City, following the 1957 earthquake. While studying at La Escuela Nacional de Artes Plásticas at the Academia de San Carlos UNAM, he became fascinated with the human body - especially of ballerinas - as he watched a dance rehearsal, sketching the ballerinas repeatedly. Victor’s ideal medium with which to sculpt is bronze, and he perfects his talent of sculpting ballerinas because he believes that the human body is fully developed and in a state of grace as one dances.

Augustin Casas Ramirez

Augustin Casas Ramirez’s sculptures merge anatomy with an abstract and breathtaking twist. Born in Mexico City in 1928, Casas was the son of Juan Casas, a master woodcarver, and grandson of Ventura Casas, a religious sculptor. As a young teenager, Augustin began creating animal figures in wood. When he turned 25, he started pursuing his own style of portraying the human form with great expressiveness. Augustin’s beautiful work is currently shown widely throughout Mexico and the United States.

Botero

A neo-figurative abstract artist, Botero calls himself “the most Colombian of Colombian artists." His paintings and sculptures are known for their exaggerated proportions and the corpulence of the figures. He explains that his inclination to paint and sculpt obese figures is a result of “being attracted to certain kinds of form without knowing why. You adopt a position intuitively; only later do you attempt to rationalize or even justify it." Widely successful, Botero’s life-sized sculptures glorify the centers of major cities, inlcuding the Palazzo Venezia in Rome. As an abstract artist, he uses intuitive aesthetic thinking to choose what colors, shapes and proportions to use. Botero’s work resonates with the beauty, passion, violence and pain that often define the essence of Colombia.

Art featured: "Botero at Ebisu" (2004) in Tokyo, "Fernando Botero" (2006) in Athens, "The Baroque World of Fernando Botero" (2007) in Quebec City, "Abu Ghraib Exhibit" (2007) in University of California, Berkeley, "Botero: Abu Ghraib" (November 6 - December 30, 2007) in American University Museum, Washington, DC.