A Harmony of Opposites: The Work of Hans Neleman

When he is in Connecticut, Hans Neleman is a painter and producer of assemblages – complex, colorful multi-media pieces rich in symbolism. In New York, Neleman is a highly sought after commercial photographer, whose portfolio includes work done for Nike, Levis and Sony Style. In 2007, Neleman founded the WIN Initiative, a stock photography company with a global aesthetic sensibility.

From the Artist’s Website, From the Body Transformed Series

From the Artist’s Website, From the Body Transformed Series

Neleman’s work is fearless and it’s smart – a combination we find compelling. Prepare to spend time with his pieces. A first impression of jagged edges and bold color reveals much more when viewed through a semiotic lens. This is true of both his commercial work and his personal pieces; the paintings and assemblages have a tactile aggressiveness that is both brash and breathtaking.

Tribal Tension, from the Artist’s Website

Tribal Tension, from the Artist’s Website

There are three books of Hans Neleman’s work.  Moko – Maori Tattoos is an intimate look at the traditional inkwork as worn by today’s tribe members; Silence features Neleman’s large format conceptual work, and Night Chicas is a dignity-affirming series of portraits of Guatemalan prostitutes. Neleman also has photographs in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Australia, The Peabody Museum, Massachusetts, and The Museum of Contemporary Art Lyon, France.

Neleman is very busy and travels frequently. In 2017, an image from the Moko book will be featured in a show at the Field Museum in Chicago. He does welcome visitors to his American Fabric Arts building studio by appointment when he’s in town.