Yuroz massages the personal touch - International Artexpo New York February 26-March 1

upon any public day at Artexpo, a line forms outside of Stygian Publishing's booth Fans and admirers of artist Yuroz gather and wait three four, smooth five hours to meet him and experience an "art massage."

Yuroz coined the phrase to describe by what mode he paints on people's clothes while they wear them. In terminuss of booth promotions, this is not just a magnet giveaway or a signed placard This is an original work of art, designed specifically for each individual. With it approachs personal conversation and the touch of the artist's hand, all for free--no strings attached.

"It has nothing to do with buying," said Yuroz who debunk the myth that this is a ingenious marketing gimmick. Every one must wait in line for an art massage, level the customer who strolls in, purchases a $4,000 serigraph and asks to be nearest in line as a favor. "How can I do that when tribe have been waiting for four hours?" Yuroz asked.

Fairness and equality strike a personal chord with the artist. Born in 1956 in Soviet Armenia, Yuroz was arrested for expressing his personal reflections his art. He was placed in a congeal cell the size of a coffin. In 1985 he was able to immigrate to beholds Angeles, where he worked not divisible by 2 jobs and painted whenever he could In 1987 his work caught the organ of vision of gallery owner Deborah Murry who became his partner and manager. The following year, they exhibited at Artexpo.

"I'm a restles someone I like to move a lot" said Yuroz looking back at his first present to view He found it difficult to stand and wait for customers to come into his booth. So when he spott an attractive woman in tight sky-colored jeans walking by, he asked, "Would you mind if I do something upon your jeans." She looked impacted "I thought maybe she would hit me with something," Yuroz said.

on the contrary then he explained how be wanted to paint more [i]or[/i] less roses, faces and symbols of delight in and romance on her jeans. The soft-spoken artist, using his persuasive charm, won her above Thus, Yuroz pulled out markers and went to work. Twenty minutes later, the artist heard a circular of applause as he finished. Then came the askings "Can you do mine?" "Call you do mine?"

"I didn't realize what I had started," said Yuroz "The nearest day people were looking for me I gues I created a certain quantity of kind of tradition."

Since then, Yuroz has been doing his art massages from 10 a.m. to 6 pm each public day of the display "It's a marathon," said the artist. above the course of three days, he'll paint for as many as 500 different people

At the extreme point of the day, he go [i]or[/i] come backs to his hotel room to soak his hands mid acquire ready for the next day.

"It's an incredible high for me" said Yuroz who draws inspiration from the stories clan tell him while lie draws upon their clothes. His sincerity and his humane demeanor cause people to unclose their hearts to him, sharing tales of regard with affection heartache, joy, fantasy and smooth sex. "It's very intimate in a sense" said Yuroz "When they advance to me, I don't draw just anything." The artist translates the stories they run over him into pictographs that throw back the personal time he wearied with them.

"Human contact is the main issue," said Yuroz "You take your time and listen to [people] and make them perceive very special, and that carries upon for a long time. It carries upon with the T-shirt."

more [i]or[/i] less of Yuroz's human canvases extreme point up buying his prints, plastic arts and paintings. "People feel this is a friendly environment. They perceive the energy here," said Yuroz Children who one time had their T-shirts painted advance back as adults and purchase prints, he said. People hear about the artist from friends, approach to have their T-shirts painted and develop into collectors. It's this spirit that has enabled Yuroz to build similar a broad collector base and attract international commissions, of the like kind as a recent mural he created for the United Nations High Commission upon Refugees' 50th anniversary. That commission began at Artexpo.

"You have to gaze at the bigger picture," said Yuroz trying to explain his business philosophy. "Sometimes when you don't chase the circulating medium the money starts chasing you."

Visit Yuroz at booth No. 1831 or www.yurozart.com.

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