Afsary, Cyrus, 1940-

Cyrus Afsary is known for his eclectic variety of subjects, he moves from portraits to still lifes to landscapes with a magical grace that reflects his sensitive and emotional study of life. Cyrus Afsary was born in the Middle East in 1940. As a child, his love for art was evident. Although his father was concerned for his desire for art, his mother encouraged his talent. Afsary enrolled in art school at the age of fifteen. He was trained in the style of the Russian masters and traditions of Ilya Repin and Valentin Serov. Soon after his training by these great artists, he received commissions for painting portraits. This served him well later in his career when he was invited to paint portraits of Sylvester Stallone, Frank Sinatra, and Dean Martin. In college, Afsary earned two Bachelor of Arts degrees, one in Fine Arts and the other in interior design. His education has led him, through the years, to paint a wide assortment of subjects in his preferred medium, oil.

When he was in his early thirties, he became a United States citizen and moved to Nevada where his other family members settled. Eventually he then moved to Arizona and established his studio and home in Tempe, where he prefers to work from afternoon into the evening because he likes quiet and solitude. Afsary's work has won several awards and has been featured in numerous exhibitions including, the Buffalo Bill Art Exhibition, Charles Russell Art Exhibition, Masters of the American West-Autry Center, The National Academy Western Art, Northwest Rendezvous, and the Prix de West Invitational.

Cyrus Afsary is equally skilled at painting landscapes, still lifes, and portraits, infusing each with the sensitivity that characterizes all of his work. His colors are clean and clear and his brushwork is decisive and vigorous. This painting by Cyrus Afsary titled, "Indian Summer" will be in the upcoming Jackson Hole Art Auction on September 19, 2009.