Palm Desert gallery welcomes new exhibit

A self-taught photographer, an award-winning artist and an Iranian are among the artists featured in a new exhibit at the Palm Desert Community Gallery this month.

The gallery will unveil the works of Arnold Familian, Leila Namvar, and Meridy Volz, in its new exhibition, “Personal Expressions,” starting Monday, Aug. 8, from 5:30 to 7 p.m., according to city spokesman David Hermann.

The exhibit features a variety of mediums, including photography, pastels and oil paints.

Arnold Familian -- a self-taught photographer and artist -- relates a visual narrative by merging digital photography, painting, and giclée, also known as fine art digital prints.

His subject matter ranges from family and friends to people and graffiti he has photographed during his extensive travels, Hermann said.

Leila Namvar, an Iranian native, will be showing artwork from her “Close Up” collection, a result of the artist’s month long stay in Yazd, Iran.

The collection’s photographs tell the stories of the people she met using an old 35 mm Pentax camera that she inherited from her father.

Meridy Volz is an award-winning artist who works in pastels, oils, and oil pastels. Her work focuses on diversity.

The Palm Desert Community Gallery, located in at 73510 Fred Waring Drive, is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

For more information, call 760-346-0611, ext. 664 or visit www.palmdesertart.org.