Agora Gallery in New York presents Collective Exhibition: Contemporary Art at its Best, showcasing art by Norwegian artist Tore Hogstvedt.

All the sensuous landscapes of Tore Hogstvedt exude a shimmering northern light. In order to capture this light, the artist carefully observes the fields and riverbanks of his native Norwegian countryside. What fascinates him most in the quiet beauty of nature is its ability to change from one moment to the next. Using an Impressionist stroke, he shows a summer breeze passing by, leaving the leaves quivering and the lake no longer calm. Although Hogstvedt emphasizes the coolness of the dark-blue hills and the big patchy sky uncommon to his French predecessors, he is similarly interested in exploring the effect of daylight on different surfaces. While the sky may seem heavy with its grayness, for example, Hogstvedt sees its reflection in the river as a playful puzzle of many smaller lights. To him, nature is not a picturesque background of human activity, but the main object of our inspiration. In dedicating himself to it, Hogstvedt not only describes what it looks like, but lets us know how it feels to be there. By fully capturing the atmosphere of his surroundings, the artist shares with us his intimate experience. Since retaking painting in 1995, Hogstvedt has participated in more than 50 exhibitions.

Click here to view Hogstvedt's work: http://www.agora-gallery.com/ArtistInvite/Tor... .

The Collective Exhibition: Contemporary Art at its Best runs June 28 - July 19 in Agora Gallery's Chelsea location at 530 West 25th Street. Reception will be held Thursday June 29 from 6 - 8 PM. Admittance is open to the public and free of charge.