Fabian Perez

Born in 1967 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Fabian Perez was fascinated by both martial arts and fine arts growing up. Karate in particular, taught Perez discipline, but also the grace and fluid movements that can be seen in his artwork. But before that, times were rough for the young man. With both parents dead by the time he was 19, Perez lived as a gypsy on the streets of Argentina for a few years, until finding his mentor and sensei, Oscar Higa, whom he eventually followed to Italy. He spent seven years learning to paint while he traveled, taught martial arts and even wrote a book entitled "Reflections of a Dream", which has also been published in the United States.

Perez then moved to Japan to further his studies in Karate, not realizing that there were in fact deep ties between martial and Fine arts: he discovered the art of "Shodo", a philosophical and meditative practice followed by Samurais and monks, of sitting before a blank sheet of rice paper with nothing but a brush and Chinese ink. "When a stroke is made on the paper, the artist cannot turn back. If he is unhappy with what he has created, he must start all over. Even when I’m going backward and forward with my colors, the important thing is the determination of each stroke."

Today Perez is based out of Los Angeles where he lives with his wife and children, but he travels extensively to show his work, with more than 210 international one-man exhibits under his belt, and counting. He does not like to categorize his work, because he feels that adding labels limits an artist’s creativity. In this same vein, Perez paints primarily with acrylic, a faster-drying paint than oil, which allows him to be more impulsive with his work. He also creates exquisitely detailed watercolors in shades of black, white and grey that rise to and far above the inherent challenge of a difficult medium. Always, his creations are sensuous, moody, enchanting. “I am constantly fighting for a more romantic world, one where the woman and the man have defined roles and power isn’t always the goal.” Pausing, he says, “I would like to say that it is not important what you have, but how you enjoy it.”