“Politics and sex.” That is how Arie Mandelbaum, speaking in English as best he could, simply explained his work during the opening of his first U.S. show, at Honfleur Gallery. And while Mandelbaum’s work exhibited in Die Umwelt can easily be divided into these two self-identified categories, they contain much more than these simple explanations and speak to his experiences.

A critically acclaimed artist in Europe, Mandelbaum’s career is dotted with numerous accolades. His work is a part of several collections throughout Eastern Europe, and it is easy to see why.

Mandelbaum employs masterful mark making. His figures are drawn with a light, but knowing hand. Just enough charcoal touches the paper to define a mark and just enough lines are drawn for a figure to be recognizable. Emphasizing orifices, different parts of the body are more fully rendered than others. His lines are fluid and confident.

He makes his own tempera paint, and his work contains a sheen due to the eggs. His palette is also simple and does not stray from black, white, red and sometimes blue. Drawings are made from pencil and charcoal and he smudges the charcoal to dampen the image, softening it and then layering it with tempura washes.