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Introducing the Board of Directors for the International Association of Art, United States of America: Kathe Madrigal, President; Carol Cirillo Stanley, Vice President; and Richard Bell, Edem Elesh, Jonathan Jerald, Petra Wright, Cynthia Johnson and Sena Denktas.
Advisory Board Members: James Finnagan, International Exchange; Natalia Lemus, PR and Social Media
Regional Directors: Northeast Director: Illijana “Lala” Sehu; Southwestern Director; Cynthia Johnson; Hawaii Director: Jared Wickware
Kathe Madrigal,
President,
World Executive Committee Member AIAP-IAA
Born and raised in Los Angeles, Kathe Madrigal was trained as a fine artist, and received her BFA from U.C.S.B. She continued her art studies at U.C.L.A, and Otis. Kathe has been painting for 30 years and exhibits in the U.S. and internationally.
As President of IAA-USA, Kathe oversees all projects and heads up IAA-USA advancement.
Her current portfolio can be seen at KATHEMADRIGAL.COM.
Kathe currently works in her studio located in
Laguna Beach, California.
For the latest updates follow her on Instagram:
@Katsu_art
Carol Cirillo Stanley,
Vice President
Carol was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and attended Duquesne University. She studied ceramics at RIT while working in wood collage and watercolor searching for the right medium to express her love of nuance and mood. Discovering that photography allowed her to express her vision, she followed her passion. Opening a small studio in DTLA allowed her to explore the ever-changing cityscape. Cirillo Stanley has a master’s degree in counseling psychology and worked for many years at the University of California Irvine as Director of Student Services for the School of Social Ecology. She is a certified yoga teacher. Her work is represented by the Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts Gallery.
Follow on IG @ctsphoto
www.carolcirillostanley.com
Petra Wright
Director,
Outreach, Curator
Petra Wright grew up in Kassel, Germany, home to the acclaimed international art exhibition ‘Dokumenta'. Upon moving to the US to pursue her career as an actress, she teamed up with Gloria Delson of Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts. Together they opened GDCA Gallery, 727 S. Spring Street, Los Angeles, where Petra has been serving as gallery director and curator since 2010.
Richard Bell, Communications Committee,
Co- Director LA Outreach
Nothing happens by accident. Not even his use of charcoal as a rudimentary medium of choice. There is much more to Richard Bell than his spinal cord injury which he suffered as a result of the motor vehicle accident in 2002. Although this tragic event left him a quadriplegic, it also resulted in him being an accomplished artist.
The transformation from Charcoal to paint was encouraged by his late and great uncle, Raymond Howell. Recognizing his talent from looking at his charcoals, Mr. Howell decided to mentor Richard in 1996. His uncle taught him everything from priming canvas, to building stretchers, mixing colors, and also making frames..
During his recovery, Richard began to experiment with applying his subjects to canvas in different ways.. In a short amount of time, Richard had enough work to start entering into shows. He won his first award at the Beverly Hills artSHOW in 2016. He was then awarded a full scholarship to the Vermont Studio Center in the summer of 2018.
Richard’s work is on display in galleries and private residences internationally.
![Edem_elesh_2015C[11661].jpg](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/588bbe403a041194fc7c3508/1594508646233-RX1856UJF1BTYS3WLWZZ/Edem_elesh_2015C%5B11661%5D.jpg)
Edem Elesh,
International Exchange Program Chair-USA
Curator/Producer exhibits
Edem Elesh, a Los Angeles native, is an internationally known, and collected, fine artist.
Bachelor of Arts Degree (with Distinction). Art Center College of Design 1995.
He was given his start in Los Angeles by Don O’Melveny on 2000. What followed was 5 years of success
under Don’s banner. In 2005 Edem was given an introduction to Lydia Takeshita of LA Artcore.
In 2008, at Lydia’s behest, Edem was invited to participate in his first international exchange show in Fukuoka, Japan,
accompanying several other LA Artcore invitees.This was to begin his journey as an internationally celebrated artist.
In 2010, Edem was personally invited to join another LA Artcore international exchange and workshop in Thailand, by the Thai National Artist Dr. Kamol Tassananchalee. This sparked a friendship that continues to this day. Edem found that traveling not only expanded his artist narrative, scope, and vocabulary, but provided a rewarding platform for the
exchange of ideas, processes, and artistic dialog between artists from different nations and cultures. His travels have since take him to Thailand, Korea, Japan, China, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Italy, and Croatia. His work has been featured on ABC Channel 7’s Art and Culture program, Thai National Television Network, Italian Television Culture Program, and
China National Television. He has served on the Board of Directors of LELA, and LA Artcore. He is represented by Gloria Delson Contemporary Arts, LA Artcore, Joanna Burke Art Consultants, and Ann Koeffler Artist representation.
To find out more, go to: https://www.edem-art.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/adam.elesh.94
Jonathan Jerald, International Exchange Program Chair-Europe
In the 1970s, Jonathan Jerald studied art at California College of Arts and Crafts, journalism at San Diego State University (earning a BA with honors) and cultural studies at Heidelberg University (where he earned the equivalent of a master’s degree). In Germany, he apprenticed in the workshop of the artist Klaus Staeck and wrote about art and culture for Seven Magazine (an English-language weekly published in Berlin).
Back in the U.S., he worked as a journalist and produced more than twenty hours of History Channel documentaries, including the award-winning Getting High, the History of LSD. He has contributed to California Magazine and Vanity Fair.
He was profiled (and named one of 12 emerging artists of note) in the Spring 2017 issue of The Artist Catalog. He has shown most recently at the Los Angeles Center for Digital Arts. His work can be seen at jonathanjerald.com. He is a board member of the first U.S. chapter of the International Association of Arts (iaa-usa.org). He lives in downtown Los Angeles with photographer Debora Deibler and three cats, Sophie, Roxie and Max
Ilirjana “Lala” Sehu,
Director Northeast Region
Ilirjana 'Lala' Sehu, a contemporary artist from the Western Balkans, emerges as a beacon of resilience and creativity. Enduring the conflicts of the 90s in Croatia and Kosovo, as well as the loss of her husband, Lala's inspiration waned until her relocation to the vibrant landscapes of Los Angeles and New York City reignited her passion for art.
Characterized by abstract expressionism and magical surrealism, Lala's creations delve into the depths of human experience, exploring themes of love, grief, and memory. With exhibitions spanning across Europe, Asia, and the United States, Lala's art resonates globally, captivating audiences with its powerful portrayal of the human condition. Her compelling creations can be found in over 10 countries on three continents, a testament to the universal language of her work.
Guided by her mantra, "The magic of the three medicines: Love, Art, Bicoastal Inspiration," Lala continues to inspire through her emotive artworks, pushing the boundaries of her craft..
Cynthia Johnson,
Director, Southwest Region
Cynthia is an artist, gallerist, curator and writer currently living in Carrizozo, New Mexico, USA. While loving time-honored artworks and continually advocating for the societal benefits of teaching art history and classical arts education to all, Cynthia is deeply committed to supporting contemporary (living) artists in their current practices. Her efforts with IAA-USA focus on advancing World Art Day celebrations across the nation and expanding member services. Cynthia serves as our Southwest Regional Director. She is the owner of Rendezvous Press Media, a founding board member of Limina Arts Foundation, and has formerly owned/operated galleries and studios in California and Michigan. Her previous professional experience also includes work in the legislative, executive and judicial branches of state government, and managing private businesses. She holds a BA in Community Services from Siena Heights University and a Mediation Certificate from the Michigan Supreme Court.