tirabassi’s colorful, naïve electro-expressionist new work evokes the human spirit, often within an atmosphere of pain and oppression. Her haunting paintings of joy are textured with layers of gesso, paint, and ink, often in combination with a variety of unexpected materials. Flowing with life and fluid lines, her inspiring and compelling works incorporate abstract and figurative elements to communicate simple truths. Over the years, tirabassi’s work has drawn comparisons to the art brut of Jean Dubuffet, the expressive color of Matisse, and the lyrical whimsy of Chagall.

Maria Tirabassi Bio –
Intuitive artist tirabassi (as Maria Tirabassi is commonly known) has been painting since 1994, when she moved into Chicago’s Flat Iron Building. Since then, she has become one of the most prolific independent sellers of art in the city, having sold over three thousand paintings in fifteen years. After moving out of the Flat Iron Building in 1997, she settled into the artist community of East Pilsen. There she started the original Humility Gallery, painting and displaying pieces in the front of the studio, while living in the back.

She is the founder of the Pilsen Art Nation and the Pilsen Art District Second Friday of the Month Open Art Studios. Her bold works are in private collections in over 20 countries including Italy, Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Colombia (where she painted 500 paintings in Quindio and Bogota). Among other honors, she was named Critic’s Choice by Crain’s Chicago Business.  In 2008, MTV purchased tirabassi art and asked her to be in a series involving painting with artistically gifted high school students facing adversity. tirabassi is also an accomplished filmmaker, songwriter, actress, and co-founder of the igLoo theatrical group. Her musical project, Robota, is a compelling and sometimes humorous live performance juxtaposed with recorded multi-media.

Humility Gallery / Tirabassi Studio –
Humility Gallery / Tirabassi Studio, a multiuse venue in Chicago’s East Pilsen neighborhood, offers multidisciplinary art on the cutting edge. Film screenings/festivals, performance art, theatre productions, spoken word, a writer-in-residence program, and music (alternative, electronic, techno, folk, rock, and jazz) will all be offered in the new creative community space, in addition to the established gallery art program. After 16 years a few doors down, the new Humility space now includes an 88-seat black box theater, ideal for original and classic dramas, in addition to the storefront gallery. During “most weeks,” regular gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 11:00am to 4:00pm, and by appointment. Free street and lot parking are available.

Links –
• Humility Gallery / Tirabassi Studio – https://www.facebook.com/humilitygallery
• tirabassi’s art – http://tirabassigallery.com/Artwork.html

For more information, photos, or to schedule an interview, please contact Green Galactic’s Lynn Tejada at 213-840-1201 or lynn@greengalactic.com.

ABOVE PHOTO:
tirabassi – photo courtesy the artist