Suzanne L’Hostis Abramo

Suzanne L’Hostis Abramo is the daughter of Louis Pierre L’Hostis and Jeanne Savidan L’Hostis (Meme). Suzanne was born 2 November, 1929 in Best France. Her Father Louis Pierre finished a 25-year career in the French Navy and posted to the French African campaign from 1914 to 1918. The L’Hostis family moved to Morlaix, France after her Father’s retirement from the Navy. Suzanne lived in Morlaix in her early years, and during the German occupation of France from 1939 to 1944. She was 10 to 14 years old during that occupation. She finished her primary and secondary education in Morlaix and then attended secretarial school in Paris in 1947.

Michael Dodson

Michael Dodson holds a Bachelor of Science, with an emphasis in Studio Art, from Skidmore College in New York.  His studies led him to Christie’s in New York City, where he earned a master’s degree in Contemporary and Modern Art History and in the History of the Art Market.  Before returning home to Las Vegas in 2015, he worked with art galleries, auctions houses, web-based art galleries and print studios in New York City.  Wanting to share his passion for art and education, he served as the Artist-in-Residence at Opportunity Village’s New Opportunities for Visionary Arts (NOVA) initiative and at the Rogers Foundation, where he taught art classes to at-risk youth through the Foundation CORE Academy.  Several of his works, emanating from large-scale commissions, are currently on view throughout the Las Vegas valley.  Michael is currently working on commissions in his studio. 

You may contact Michael at  michaeldodsonart.com 

Michael Tessler

Michael is a commercial architectural photographer, and he approaches his work as an art form. Michael’s photographs of architecture and interior design express emotion and give the viewer a true sense of being in a location. His attention to detail and artistic sense are visible in all his work. Michael, in addition to exhibiting his architectural photography at the Savidan Gallery last year, also plays jazz and blues piano at our opening receptions.

Contact Michael at tesslerphotography.com.

Edmond Rivera

Soon after leaving Choulnard Art Institute, (now California Institute of the Arts, CAL ARTS) where he majored in design, painting and drawing, Ed began his career in the entertainment field. He found himself working on and creating movie posters and related marketing materials for iconic blockbuster films, including Jaws, Dirty Harry, The Sting, Superman, The Beatles, Hard Day’s Night re-release, The Killing Fields, ET, American Graffiti, The Empire Strikes Back and many more. He also created corporate ID logos, branding, and package design.

The 2008 meltdown inspired him to return to his fine art training as a way of expressing frustration with social issues using metaphors in his work. He currently works on commissions in his Las Vegas studio.

Contact Edmond at info@savidangallery.com.

Sally Ripamonti

“Painting has always been an isle of tranquility in my hectic life as the mother of four boys. It was the place where problems (and there were many) could be solved using color. For me, that was almost magical. Though I’ve tried to develop a “genre,” one never comes. I love to paint everything in the manner that strikes me, at the moment. It keeps life interesting.”

Sally is currently working on commissions in her studio.

Contact Sally at sallyrip@gmail.com.

Stefano Ripamonti

“I was born in Rome and lived there until I was 33. When you are born in a city that has breathtaking art every hundred feet: the beauty of forms, the harmony of colors the charm of a small tavern hidden in an ancient Roman ruin, the majesty of Basilicas and fountains, you get so used to it that you hardly pay attention to it. Yet your brain and your soul are more sensitive to aesthetics, to harmony, to the infinite ranges of light and shadow than most other people don’t appreciate. And sometimes, like in my case, discovering that photography is a wonderful way of capturing the essence of the reality that surrounds you, it makes you obsessed with recording any image that can telegraph an emotion. I had never longed to become a “professional” photographer because grabbing a camera, when I want and shoot whatever I want, without the stress of assignments, deadlines and need to sell your work, makes photography an island of peace, beauty and enjoyment. It has been a very effective therapy for me, a way to assuage the tension and the burdens in the business world in which I have toiled for 50 years. Some resort to yoga, I do photography.”

In addition to Stefano’s photography, he is also a prolific illustrator and cartoonist. We hope to introduce his work in 2021 at the Savidan Gallery.

Contact Stefano at montivegas@gmail.com.

Thomas U. Knapp

A career in law enforcement, that included extensive crime scene forensic photography, played a significant role in expanding Tom’s photographic evolution. Growing up on a farm in New Hampshire and later the orange groves of Florida fostered a love of animals, nature and the great outdoors. Many trips, vacations and friendly contests to take the best picture further helped to develop the foundational skills necessary for him to take memorable and timeless photographs. A desire to diversify and expose himself to new challenges led Tom to accept and develop a wide variety of photographic endeavors. He shot location still photographs for The Travel Channel. Exotic car shots for Motor Trend magazine. Event photography including the “Property Brothers” (Jonathan & Drew Scott). Photos for “World River” international literary journal, Nevada Magazine and the Nevada Travel Guide. Commercial photography for the “Skywalk” restaurant at the Grand Canyon and other medical, dental and commercial clients. He continues to expand his local, state and international clientele. While Tom’s interest in photography continues to explore new subjects, his love of nature and landscapes remain his favorite subjects. Tom is particularly interested in capturing the beauty and majesty of Nevada’s endangered wildlife, including wild horses, burros, big horn sheep and other flora and fauna he encounters on his travels. He is currently working on two documentary projects, one is Zak Bagans’ The Haunted Museum and the other is for the Ice Age Fossil State Park.

Contact Thomas at tukphotography.com.

Alexander Franco

“I have always tried to come up with a different way to make forms, by using different colors different ways, experimenting with different styles and techniques, and striving for something unique every time.  When I begin experimenting with spontaneous forms of expression, I don’t worry about errors, because all accidents in this style are what are responsible for applying an aspect of movement, giving the figure an almost organic formation.  Using acrylics, because of their fluidity and short drying times, helps me finish a piece with vigor and personality, which I enjoy doing greatly.”

Alex is currently working on commissions in his studio.

Contact Alexander at  www.Franco.Gallery  or 702-526-4016.