Contemporary Works
We have a wide selection of the finest contemporary art from artists such as Craig Alan, Angellini, Dennis Carney, Antonio Dojer, John Douglas, Giovanni, Jennifer Hollack, Robert Holman, Volk and others.

Hallmark Galleries Presents . . .

Volk – "I take much of my inspiration from music, history and the future."



Born October 20, 1962 in Deadwood, South Dakota, the artist Volk has fond memories of the farm where he grew up. He recalls the golden color of ripened wheat and the scent of clover, as well as the musky smell of the pine forest and the distant rumble of dynamite blasts, deep below the earth, from the famous Homestake gold mine. These memories of open spaces filled with unlimited color and light would later be reflected in the wide spectrum of subtle hues and textures visible in his work.

After receiving his Bachelor of Fine Art from the University of Oregon, Volk launched his professional painting career in Eugene, Oregon and began creating a style of abstract expressionism that is evocative of the Twentieth Century color-field artists, or the subtle layered complexity of abstractionist Mark Rothko. A bold palette of vibrant colors and a broad sweep of textural excitement are the signature of abstract works by Volk. The artist explains that he derives his inspiration from many artists, but especially from Max Beckmann, because of his power and truth, from Diebenkorn, for of his unique color and paint quality, and from Franz Kline, whose eye for scale and composition gave him the ability to paint something very bold, but with amazing subtlety. The influence of these Twentieth Century masters can readily be seen in the paintings of Volk. Whether he is working in a subdued palette of subtle blues and grays, or with splashes of dazzling color, one is sure to find beautiful surface textures and a unique blending of imagery and abstraction.

A self-confessed lover of beauty, literature and music, Volk believes in the "art" behind the making of art. "For me, art is like a philosophy," the artist elaborates, "it`s about achieving a balance between what is realistic and what is abstract. The line between the two is very fine. What interests me is making things recognizable from things you don`t recognize, using a visual vocabulary to make it clear. Abstract expressionism, for me, is abstracting what`s real and evoking an emotion toward the reality."

Volk prefers working in oils and acrylic paint. When he is not painting, he enjoys writing, cooking, golf, and hiking. He is an avid reader and admits that he is motivated by a great story.