Hessam's vibrant colors, dynamic composition, and powerful expression go hand in hand with imagination and expert craftsmanship to create works of amazing depth and dimension which are at once both intriguing and disarming to the viewer. This is but one way to describe paintings by this talented artist. Born in the city of Shiraz, Iran in 1951, Hessam Abrishami is the son of middle class parents and one of eight brothers and sisters. Hessam attended public schools in his home city of Shiraz through graduation from high school, after which he entered his country's military service where he served for two year. As Hessam continued his education in high school and devoted his major effort to painting, he also studied seriously other related types of art including calligraphy and architecture, both of which he credits with making a major contribution to the development of his work throughout his life. At age 17, Hessam received his first award for his painting, the top award in a student competition. The next year he won top honors in painting in an all-country competition in Iran. And, at age 19, Hessam achieved first place honors in the Iranian New Artists Competition. Many other national and international honors and recognitions followed thereafter. Carsolli considered the center of art in Europe. It was in Perugia, where he studied and completed his Master's Degree in Fine Arts at the Accademi De Belle Arti Pietro Vanucci. Although Hessam pursued his first love in the area of portraiture by concentrating on realistic painting including special studies in anatomy, he also developed his talent further by studying widely in other styles including impressionism, surrealism, cubism, and modern art. Hessam noted that he was influenced mostly in Italy by the artistic atmosphere in general but more specifically because colors were bright and the atmosphere was quiet and relaxed. However, his subsequent return to his native Iran for a five-year period also had its effect on his work. There Hessam found the country in a state of revolution; colors were darker, activity more frenetic and there was less relaxation; it caused anger to come to the forefront. His paintings became less realistic, subjects were darker, there was more movement expressed, all reflecting the mood and therefore also his painting which was moving significantly away from realism. During Hessam's stay in Iran, a collaborative effort with a friend produced a book of his paintings and his friends poems, which was called SCREAMS. This book of art and poetry, however, proved to be unacceptable in his home country because of its powerful political and religious overtones. Shortly thereafter, he left his native country for a brief stay of about eight months in Italy and then immigrated to Los Angeles, California where he has remained since. Hessam continues to paint, influenced strongly by all his experiences. In his chosen medium of acrylic (on both paper and canvas), he explores a realm which the French press has called" A statement in the fluidity of human figures". Hessam creates a tension between each figure, a kinship of place or condition that provokes the viewer to seek reasons for such relationships. Given Hessam's many sketching trips throughout the world, it is no wonder that his works, exhibited in Asia, Europe, and North America, have been described as taking the onlooker to a realm of suggestion and mystical beauty...where everything is alive with a sense of everlasting fluid motion. In so doing, Hessam is expanding his horizons, and stimulating the mind as well as charming the eyes of the beholder. In May 2007, Hessam was invited by the American Liberty University in association with California Polytechnic University in Pomona to receive an Honorary Doctorate to commemorate his achievements as an artist. Chronology and Exhibitions 1967 Encouraged to study painting and drawing by his teacher Muezzi. 1970 Wins first place in Iran's National Painting Competition. 1971 Receives B.A. in architecture from the Namazi Institution of Arts, Shiraz. 1975 Leaves Iran to study art at the Accademia di Bella Arti Pietro Vanucci. 1979 Graduates from Accademia di Bella Arti Pietro Vanucci. 1979 His first exhibition in the City Gallery of Perugia, Italy. 1980 Returns to Iran 1980 His son Kaveh is born. 1980 Participates in a group exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Arts, Tehran. 1981 One-Man Exhibitions at Derissi Gallery and Suratkadph Gallery in Shiraz. 1982 Publication of a book of his drawings titled "Screams". 1983 Returns to Italy 1984 One-Man Exhibitions at the City Galleries of Julia Nova and Noretto, Italy 1984 Immigrates to the United States 1985 One-Man Exhibition at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). 1986 One-Man Exhibition at Forcast Gallery in Los Angeles and Mac Houston Gallery in Pasadena. 1986 Group Exhibition at the San Bernardino Museum of Art. 1987 Illustrates the book of "The Epic of King Kiomars". 1987-90 Participates in 72 Art Festivals and wins 21 prizes. 1989 Group exhibition at the Chicago Holiday Inn. 1989 One-Man Exhibition at the Santa Monica Public Gallery 1990 Exhibits in the Los Angeles and New York Artexpo. 1991 One-Man Exhibition at the Bennett Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee. 1991 Exhibits in the Los Angeles and New York Artexpo. 1992 Joins Collectors Editions Art Publisher. 1992 Group Exhibition at the New York Artexpo. 1992 Exhibits at the Charlotte and Atlanta ABC Shows. 1992 Group Exhibition at Art Asia Trade Show, Hong Kong. 1993 Group Exhibition at Tokyo International Art Show, Japan. 1993 Exhibits in the Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York Artexpo. 1993 Exhibits at Orlando, Dallas, and Atlanta ABC Shows. 1994 Exhibits at New York and Las Vegas Artexpo. 1994 Exhibits at Orlando, Dallas, Atlanta, and Philadelphia ABC Shows. 1994 Exhibits at the International Spring Fair, Birmingham, England. 1995 Exhibits at Dallas and New York Artexpo. 1995 Exhibits at Dallas, and Atlanta ABC Shows. 1995 One-Man Exhibition at Stellers Gallery, Jacksonville, Florida. 1995 One-Man Exhibition at Art Tech. Gallery in Denver, Colorado. 1995 One-Man Exhibition, Lyrical Art Co., Tokyo, Japan. 1995 Group Exhibition at Deck The Walls, San Diego, California. 1995 One-Man Exhibition at the Bennett Gallery, Nashville, Tennessee. 1996 Exhibits in the Los Angeles and New York Artexpo. 1996 Exhibits at Atlanta and Philadelphia ABC Shows. 1996 One-Man Exhibition at Teri Gallery, New Orleans, Louisiana. 1996 One-Man Exhibition at A Gallery of Fine Art in Palm Desert, California. 1996 One-Man Exhibition at Barucci Gallery, Clayton, Missouri. 1996 One-Man Exhibition at Shaw Gallery, Naples, Florida. 1996 Group Exhibition at The Art of Entertainment Gallery , MGM Grand Hotel/Casino, Las Vegas. 1996 One-Man Exhibition at Art Impressions Gallery, Columbus, Ohio. 1997 One-Man Exhibition at Apropos Gallery, Telluride, Colorado. 1997 Exhibits at Washington D.C., Chicago, and Atlanta ABC Shows. 1997 One-Man Exhibition at Mary Vincent Gallery, Westchester, Illinois. 1997 One-Man Exhibition at Water Street Gallery, Minneapolis, Minnesota. 1997 One-Man Exhibition at Gallery 2000, Washington D.C. 1997 International Autumn Fair, Birmingham, England. 1997 Group Exhibition at ABC Galleria, New York. 1997 Exhibits in the Los Angeles and New York Artexpo. 1997 One-Man Exhibition at Syd Entel Galleries, Safety Harbor, Florida. 1998 Exhibits at New York Artexpo. 1998 One-Man Exhibition at Shaw Gallery, Naples, Florida. 1998 One-Man Exhibition at New River Gallery, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. 1998 One-Man Exhibition at Emerald City Fine Art, Seattle, Washington. 1998 One-Man Exhibition at Gallery 444, San Francisco, California. 1999 Exhibits at New York Artexpo. 1999 One-Man Exhibition at Ocean Gallery, Avalon, New Jersey. 1999 One-Man Exhibition at Art Image Gallery in Washington D.C. 1999 One-Man Exhibition at Stellers Gallery, Jacksonville, Florida. 1999 One-Man Exhibition at Barucci Gallery, Clayton, Missouri. 1999 One-Man Exhibition at Apropos Gallery, Telluride, Colorado. 1999 One-Man Exhibition at Art Impressions Gallery, Columbus, Ohio. 1999 One-Man Exhibition at Danielle Peleg Gallery, Detroit, Michigan. 2000 Exhibits at New York Artexpo. 2000 One-Man Exhibition at New River Gallery, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. 2000 One-Man Exhibition at Shaw Gallery, Naples, Florida. 2000 One-Man Exhibition at Larry Smith Fine Art Gallery, West Hollywood, California. 2000 One-Man Exhibition at Griffon Gallery, Cleveland, Ohio. 2000 One-Man Exhibition at 21st Century Gallery, Denver, Colorado. 2000 One-Man Exhibition at The Art Shop, Greensboro, North Carolina. 2001 Exhibits at New York Artexpo. 2001 One-Man Exhibition at Gallerie Brion Fine Art, Del Ray Beach, Florida. 2001 One-Man Exhibition at Saper Galleries, East Lansing, Michigan. 2001 One-Man Exhibition at Sahara Fine Art, Bellevue, Washington. 2001 One-Man Exhibition at A Gallery of Fine Art in Palm Desert, California. 2001 One-Man Exhibition at Nese Galleries, Newport Beach, California. 2002 Exhibits at New York Artexpo. 2002 One-Man Exhibition at Shaw Gallery, Naples, Florida. 2002 One-Man Exhibition at New River Gallery, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. 2002 One-Man Exhibition at Michael Collins Gallery, Escondido, California. 2003 Exhibits at New York Artexpo. 2003 One-Man Exhibition at Gallerie Brion, Del Ray Beach, Florida 2003 One-Man Exhibition at Art Resources Gallery, Edina, Minnesota 2003 One-Man Exhibition at Ocean Galleries, Stone Harbor, New Jersey 2003 One-Man Exhibition at Syd Entel Galleries, Safety Harbor, Florida 2003 One-Man Exhibition at Gallery 319, Santa Monica, California 2004 One-Man Exhibition at Shaw Gallery, Naples, FL 2006 Exhibition Museum of Arts & Science, Daytona Beach, FL 2006 One Man Exhibition at Shaw Gallery, Naples, FL 2008 One Man Exhibition at Shaw Gallery, Naples, FL 2010 One Man Exhibition at Shaw Gallery, Naples,FL 2010 One Man Exhibition at Dazian Gallery, Worcester, MA 2010 One Man Exhibition at Art People Gallery, San Francisco, CA 2010 One Man Exhibition at Art on 5th, Austin, TX 2011 One Man Exhibition at A Gallery of Fine Art, Palm Desert, CA 2011 One Man Exhibition at Wind Fine Art, Dayton, OH 2011 One Man Exhibition at Syd Entel Gallery, Safty Harbor, FL 2011 One Man Exhibition at Monarch Gallery, La Jolla, CA 2011 One Man Exhibition at Legacy Fine Art, Richmond, VA 2012 One Man Exhibition at Onessimo Gallery, Palm Beach, FL 2012 One Man Exhibition at New River Fine Art, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 2012 One Man Exhibition at Monarch Gallery, La Jolla, CA 2012 One Man Exhibition at Art People Gallery, San Francisco, CA 2012 One Man Exhibition at ABRA Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2012 One Man Exhibition at Lamantia Gallery, Northport, NY 2013 One Man Exhibition at James Coleman Signature Gallery, St. Augustine, FL 2013 One Man Exhibition at Mary Martin Gallery, Charleston, SC 2013 One Man Exhibition at Syd Entel Galleries, Safety Harbor, FL 2013 One Man Exhibition at ABRA Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2014 One Man Exhibition at Wind Fine Art, Dayton, OH 2014 One Man Exhibition at Maser Galleries, Pittsburgh, PA 2014 One Man Exhibition at Fremont Gallery, Pasadena, CA 2014 One Man Exhibition at Monarch Gallery, La Jolla, CA 2015 One Man Exhibition at Mary Martin Gallery, Charleston, SC 2015 One Man Exhibition at Lamantia Gallery, Northport, NY 2015 One Man Exhibition at Chasen Galleries, Richmond, VA 2015 One Man Exhibition at Syd Entel Galleries, Safety Harbor, FL 2015 One Man Exhibition at ABRA Gallery, Los Angeles, CA 2016 One Man Exhibition at Shaw Gallery, Naples, FL 2016 One Man Exhibition at Wirtz Gallery, South Miaimi, FL 2016 One Man Exhibition at Gallery Rouge, London, UK 2017 One Man Exhibition at Onessimo Gallery, Palm Beach, FL 2017 One Man Exhibition at Wind Fine Art, Dayton, OH 2017 One Man Exhibition at Ocean Galleries, Avalon, NJ 2018 One Man Exhibition at Syd Entel Galleries, Safety Harbor, FL 2018 One Man Exhibition at Mary Martin Gallery at the belmond Hotel, Charleston, SC 2018 One Man Exhibition at Chasen Galleries, Richmond, VA