Throughout the month of July, el Pedregal introduces a new artist exhibit called “Cosmogony & Infinite Triangle Series” by Bela Fidel.  Beneath the swirl of seemingly chaotic cosmos, the paintings showcase a sense of order and purpose.  The artist creates an emotional pull by the tension between the abstract shapes and geometric figures.  She uses shapes such as the circle and triangle to represent Man’s striving for unity and harmony with the cosmos.  The message in this series is optimism, depicted in strong, bold and lush colors influenced by her South American background.     

Fidel says, “I create visual excitement in my work by combining geometric imagery that is rooted in the mystical/occult teachings, with brush strokes that typify expressive abstract paintings.  The object of my work is to go beyond the realm of the singular to the realm of the universal; the range of dynamics that inhabits each person.  Some, that are peaceful and orderly and others that are more dynamic and aggressive.  I am an artist that is in love with the process of creating.”      

Fidel is known for her abstracts, oils, encaustic, endangered/exploited species, flight, mixed media, creation of the word triptych, and portrait of an artist series.  Fidel is engaged in an ongoing process of experimentation and exploration, to discover innovative ways to capture the viewer in a visual experience that is both “unique and timeless, immediate and transcendent,” she says.

Born in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Fidel began her art education in Brazil, later studying in the United States at many schools throughout Los Angeles, San Francisco, Phoenix and Scottsdale.  Fidel’s works have been displayed in exhibits including the Grossman Gallery Annual Show-Sao Paulo, Brazil; Affaire in the Garden -Beverly Hills, CA;  Artisimo-Scottsdale, AZ, and the Celebration of Fine Art-San Francisco, CA; among others. 

Her work has been awarded by the Holocaust Survivors’ Association in 1994, Arte Latino en la Ciudad V-The Phoenix Center for Community Arts in 1999, the National Anti Vivisection Society in 2007 and the Art Alliance in 2008.