Photograph by Samir Barber, 1972
Romanos Rizk (1927 - 2009)
Collage
Romanos Rizk arrived in Provincetown, Massachusetts in the 1940's to study with noted artist and teacher Henry Hensche. "Ray" and his wife Grace, an actress and jewelry designer, became tired of the annual Summer treks to and from New York and decided to move year-round to Provincetown in the early 1950's and never left. They quickly established themselves as an important creative force in the community.
Romanos was an accomplished portrait painter who freely and deftly worked in both realist and abstract styles throughout his career spanning over 6 decades. He was known for his lush nudes, peaceful impressionism, evocative ballerinas and flamenco dancers and mindful abstractions.
River Street Studio is honored to be able to offer a selection of the few remaining collages created by Romanos in the 1970's and 80s. These were composed by assembling fragments of paintings that he created specifically for his collage work, foils, hand-made paper and other fiber and painted elements (such as calligraphy). River Street Studio features selections from his "One with the Tao", "Age of the Hero" and "Geisha" series.
In his own words:
"As the search to understand myself, and the realities of life, changed and developed, my painting followed. Interest in the workings of the mind led me to conclude that developing the art meant developing the man.
Creative action is related to all action in life, whether it be artistic or otherwise. It is a spontaneous action that is the result of awareness and clarity.
Eastern Philosophy and oriental art, over the years, has had a strong influence on my work. In Zen, there is an expression...Beginner's Mind...which means an alert and quiet mind free of conditioning, and open to all possibilities. In this state of mind, there is no thought of success, and so no fear of failure. When there is no fear of failure, there is freedom and one's action is flowing and spontaneous.
Knowledge is necessary, but the expert's mind is limited to what it knows and has experienced. In Beginner's Mind the possibilities are limitless."
Brochure for the first of many exhibitions in Detroit, MI, 1972
Collage
Romanos Rizk arrived in Provincetown, Massachusetts in the 1940's to study with noted artist and teacher Henry Hensche. "Ray" and his wife Grace, an actress and jewelry designer, became tired of the annual Summer treks to and from New York and decided to move year-round to Provincetown in the early 1950's and never left. They quickly established themselves as an important creative force in the community.
Romanos was an accomplished portrait painter who freely and deftly worked in both realist and abstract styles throughout his career spanning over 6 decades. He was known for his lush nudes, peaceful impressionism, evocative ballerinas and flamenco dancers and mindful abstractions.
River Street Studio is honored to be able to offer a selection of the few remaining collages created by Romanos in the 1970's and 80s. These were composed by assembling fragments of paintings that he created specifically for his collage work, foils, hand-made paper and other fiber and painted elements (such as calligraphy). River Street Studio features selections from his "One with the Tao", "Age of the Hero" and "Geisha" series.
In his own words:
"As the search to understand myself, and the realities of life, changed and developed, my painting followed. Interest in the workings of the mind led me to conclude that developing the art meant developing the man.
Creative action is related to all action in life, whether it be artistic or otherwise. It is a spontaneous action that is the result of awareness and clarity.
Eastern Philosophy and oriental art, over the years, has had a strong influence on my work. In Zen, there is an expression...Beginner's Mind...which means an alert and quiet mind free of conditioning, and open to all possibilities. In this state of mind, there is no thought of success, and so no fear of failure. When there is no fear of failure, there is freedom and one's action is flowing and spontaneous.
Knowledge is necessary, but the expert's mind is limited to what it knows and has experienced. In Beginner's Mind the possibilities are limitless."
Brochure for the first of many exhibitions in Detroit, MI, 1972
One With The Tao # 732 - Mixed Media/ Collage, 17 1/2" X 13" Framed
Age of Heros , Mixed Media/Collage, 21 1/2" X 17 1/2 " Framed
One with the Tao # 684, Mixed Media/Collage, 12 3/4" X 23" Framed
Selected One-Man and Group Exhibitions:
Preston Burke Galleries, Detroit, MI
The Fine Arts Museum of the South, Mobile, AL
Shore Galleries, Boston, MA
The Naples Art Gallery, Naples, FL
Bristol Art Museum, Bristol, RI
Tennyson Gallery, Provincetown, MA
The Group Gallery, Provincetown, MA
Cape Museum of Fine Arts, Dennis MA
Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Provincetown, MA
John Hancock Insurance Building, Boston, MA
Mikimoto Pearl Company, Tokyo, Japan
The Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg, MA
Weyerhauser Lumber Company, Boston, MA
Morgan Guaranty Trust Bank, New York, NY
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn MI
El Mundo Newspaper of San Juan, Puerto Rico
...and innumerable private collections world-wide
Preston Burke Galleries, Detroit, MI
The Fine Arts Museum of the South, Mobile, AL
Shore Galleries, Boston, MA
The Naples Art Gallery, Naples, FL
Bristol Art Museum, Bristol, RI
Tennyson Gallery, Provincetown, MA
The Group Gallery, Provincetown, MA
Cape Museum of Fine Arts, Dennis MA
Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Provincetown, MA
John Hancock Insurance Building, Boston, MA
Mikimoto Pearl Company, Tokyo, Japan
The Fitchburg Art Museum, Fitchburg, MA
Weyerhauser Lumber Company, Boston, MA
Morgan Guaranty Trust Bank, New York, NY
Ford Motor Company, Dearborn MI
El Mundo Newspaper of San Juan, Puerto Rico
...and innumerable private collections world-wide
