New York-born artist Hillel Selznick works with watercolors, oils, and various other mediums. Known for his abstract paintings featuring brushy layers of alternating colors, he is primarily recognized for his distinctive squares and stripes. Hillel employs innovative techniques, including 3D pen acrylics, oils, watercolors, pastels, and combinations of these, to create his unique artistic expressions.
Passion for Art
Hillel Selznick’s passion for art emerged naturally and intuitively, progressing through his education and professional experiences. As a child, he spent countless hours drawing, a natural inclination that grew stronger during his formative years. His passion solidified when he enrolled at New York University. As an educator, his enthusiasm for art drove him to continuously investigate and experiment with new techniques and styles.
His passion is to paint and share his love for creation on canvas with as many people as possible. For over forty years, Hillel Selznick has been painting, instructing, and speaking about contemporary art, aiming to deepen the understanding and appreciation of this artistic genre.
The Work of Hillel Selznick
Selznick’s work is characterized by a delicate balance between the monumental and the intimate, defined by acute concentration and care. His art gives primary importance to the physicality of the materials he uses, driven by the idea of improving humanity. Each rigorously composed piece contains a near-infinite number of expressive emotional fluctuations, making his work both profound and accessible.
As one of the most influential and well-known abstract painters of contemporary times, Hillel Selznick’s paintings often feature horizontal and vertical stripes of color along an axis. His finely balanced approach to painting showcases a great deal of visual delicacy while maintaining a refreshingly calm atmosphere.
Artistic Style
Fauvism and Expressionism are the stages Hillel explored during his formal training, which significantly influenced his own eclectic style. Working with heavy body and fluid acrylic paint as well as inks, his focus has recently shifted to large-scale contemporary abstraction with a nod to realism. This evolution reflects his ongoing commitment to exploring new artistic horizons and pushing the boundaries of his creativity.
Selznick’s Work Process
Hillel Selznick’s creative process begins with sketchbooks and preliminary sketches that generate the initial ideas for his paintings. Until recently, his approach to composition was a surrealist evolution devoid of any prior phase, involving a direct confrontation with the blank canvas. This method allowed the forms and elements of his paintings to emerge organically, resulting in works that are both spontaneous and meticulously crafted.
Conclusion
Hillel Selznick’s work emphasizes color, light, and texture, featuring subjects such as landscapes, flowers, still life, beaches, seascapes, and abstract forms. His atmospheric, textural pictures often focus on a dominant color, creating an immersive visual experience. Many of his paintings are held in private collections across several continents, a testament to his global influence and enduring appeal.
Selznick’s legacy is marked by his ability to balance reflection and vitality in his work, offering a refreshing and calming visual experience. Through his innovative techniques and commitment to artistic exploration, Hillel Selznick continues to inspire and influence the contemporary art world, reminding us of the transformative power of art.