League at Large: Marlies Najaka, Stephanie Reit, Yuri Tayshete

This ongoing partnership between Nordstrom and League at Large features works by League artists Marlies Najaka, Stephanie Reit, and Yuri Tayshete, solicited through an open call. The December 2023 installation celebrates the month’s festivities with works that are holiday-themed or incorporate silver/metallic colors.

‍

League at Large is a program that showcases the work of League artists in public venues outside of the League in order to increase exposure to and appreciation of their work.

‍

Marlies Najaka

Marlies Najaka worked as an illustrator/graphic designer after graduating from Parsons School of Design. After retiring, Najaka discovered the Art Students League and began the challenge of portrait painting. As a watercolorist Najaka’s work explores the interplay of light and color in capturing the essence of my subjects. Najaka is fascinated by the way light can transform an ordinary scene or object into something extraordinary, and she strives to convey that sense of wonder in her art. Whether she is working in watercolor or oils, Najaka’s goal is always to create art that invites the viewer to pause and appreciate the beauty of the world around us. Through my paintings, she hopes to share her sense of wonder and inspire others to see the world in a new light.

Website: www.new-paintings.com

‍

Stephanie Reit

Stephanie Reit is drawn to the inherent narratives within still life, allowing viewers to weave their own stories and emotions into the painting. Through the medium of oil paint, Reit aims to capture the essence of fleeting moments in a collection of carefully arranged objects or the delicate interplay of reflections on a polished surface. Reit’s goal is to evoke a sense of contemplation and appreciation for the simple elements that enrich our lives.

Website: www.instagram.com/stephinny1

‍

Yuri Tayshete

Yuri Tayshete (1970, Ichikawa City, Japan) is a self-taught artist who mainly works with oil painting. By applying dynamic brush strokes and fresh colors, Tayshete creates intense poetic moments created by means of ordinary subjects. She currently lives and works in New York City. Tayshete’s ultimate goal is in finding harmony in the universe by looking at everyday things that affirm each other. She wants to portray this view of the world through her still life paintings. Her paintings also bring out the dialog between light and shadow; inorganic and organic; and natural and synthetic.

Website: www.yuritayshete.com