Alush Shima, 1942

Small Territories of Freedom under communism

Alush Shima was born in Tirana, Albania. He painted in secret under Albania’s communist regime for almost two decades, being a former Parliament member.

Alush Shima’s most perilous moment was in 1973, when the Sigurimi secret police seized his closest friend, fellow artist Ali Oseku, for letting slip praise of such bourgeois painters as Picasso and Matisse.

He worked as a set painter in Albania’s only film studio, Kinostudio.

Isabel Miramontes, 1962 | Abstract surrealist sculptor

Born in in Santiago de Compostella (Spain) and influenced by the Celtic Origins of her village, the bronze works of Isabel Miramontes have both a primitive and essential quality to them.

Her recognizable androgynous figures express a narrative of quiet certitude and the inevitable struggle of everyday man, his obstacles and triumphs.

Ferdinand Heilbuth | Academic painter

Ferdinand Heilbuth (1826-1889) was a German*-born French painter*.

He was born in Hamburg in 1826, and died in Paris in 1889, having become a French citizen in 1876.

The son of a rabbi, Ferdinand Heilbuth lived and studied in Antwerp, Munich, Düsseldorf and Rome before settling in Paris.

He entered the studio of Paul Delaroche*, remaining there after it was taken over by Charles Gleyre. He made his debut at the Salon in 1853, and his early work consisted of genre pictures and historical paintings, the latter often depicting episodes from the lives of earlier artists.

Miroslaw Scheib, 1963 | Romantic Cityscape painter

Mirosław Szeib was born in Międzyzdroje lives in Świnoujście. He graduated from Fine Arts High School in Szczecin.

For many years, the author treated the painting as a hobby and great passion, later painting became a way of life.

In the 90s he became interested in seascape painting. Sea battles started coming into existence.

Jacques Carabain | Romantic Realism painter

Jacques François Joseph Carabain, or Jacob Frans Jozef Carabain (23 February 1834, Amsterdam - 2 January 1933, Schaerbeek) was a Dutch-Belgian painter, known primarily for his scenes of cities and buildings in the Romantic-Realist style.

He was especially interested in Medieval and Baroque structures, and was often attracted to busy market places.