Perviz Heyat:

Perviz Heyat is a multimedia artist whose work might be described as a free style combination of abstract expressionism punctuated by bold graffiti-like images. His large oil and acrylic canvases strike an innovative visual balance between multi-layered gritty texturing and bold color contrast.

His experiences traveling across the US and working in big cities and on Indian reservations over the past twenty five years form the subject-matter of his paintings, which address the social unrest, inequality and alienation inherent in a modern society focused on economic and technological progress. Through his compelling compositional style characterized by primitive figures with exaggerated features surrounded often by rap-like graffiti, Perviz Heyat encourages observers to consider tough and important issues like exploitation and poverty.

Born in Pakistan and raised in Turkey, Perviz Heyat has studied art formally since age six and even made time for his painting during his rigorous medical education and training. In Turkey, he received classical training from Professor A. Sumer of the Istanbul Academy of Art, who was also one of the foremost impressionist painters in Turkey at the time. Perviz Heyat had several exhibitions in private galleries in Istanbul before he moved to the United States in 1982. He has exhibited his paintings in local galleries in Wheeling, West Virginia and his paintings were featured in the Sony Pictures Classics release “Whatever” which debuted at the Sundance Film Festival in 1997. He currently resides in Harrisonburg, Virginia and regularly exhibits his paintings locally and in Washington, DC at the Studio Gallery as well as Manhattan New York, at the Phoenix Gallery.