John Berberian: Drawings

Free - Through May 17, 2013

Yousuf Karsh by John Berberian, 2012

On March 3, ALMA hosted the opening of Providence artist John Berberian exhibit of drawings. Best known for the intense realism of his pencil-drawn portraits of notable public figures, Berberian was a prize winner for his portrait of Lincoln at the Wickford Art Association and was awarded First Prize by the Rhodes Island Art education association at the Krauss Gallery in Providence.

While attending Providence county day school, Berberian was encouraged by his art teacher, and upon graduation, won the Art Award for his "sensitivity, originality, and excellence in drawing". He was commissioned to draw and present the portraits of Julie Andrews and her husband, Blake Edwards, when she accepted an award from the Rhode Island International Film Festival. Recently, he also had the opportunity to draw and present a portrait of Ernest Borgnine while he received his lifetime achievement award.

Critically, Berberian has been acclaimed for the life-like depictions of his subjects, giving them "intensity" and "humanity", having “the kind of punch, clarity, and intensity of scene that is reminiscent of Norman Rockwell's use of technical mastery in the pursuit of vivid realism".

Abraham Lincoln

Berberian with ALMA Curator Gary Lind-Sinanian at the opening