DRAGON EXHIBITION AT CHATEAU BELCASTEL
A SoHo landmark since 1983
AFA Gallery offers a unique collection of original paintings, drawings, prints and sculpture from established and emerging artists. The collective works are characterized by their figurative technique and technical virtuosity, rooted in the history and traditions of illustration and expressionism.
The story begins with a gallery called Animazing, specializing in conceptual animation art and cartoon expressionism. After the emergence of CGI (computer-generated imagery), traditional animation art ceased to exist and the gallery evolved to exhibit “fine art that is fun”.
In keeping with its natural momentum, the gallery’s artistic evolution continued and shifted its focus to original illustration art by American contemporary masters. In 2012, its SoHo branch re-branded as AFA Gallery (Animazing Fine Art). A more sophisticated gallery emerged, one that focused on living contemporary surrealists whose work was edgy and masterful.
AFA continued to push forward with a new vision for the future dedicated to presenting compelling programming both in the US and France. After 35 years, AFA closed in 2019, and owner Heidi Leigh moved to France, continuing to support outstanding artists with high profile events at Chateau Belcastel. New exhibitions were of a monumental in scale, embellishing the medieval castle with street art and projects created by established artists working across diverse artistic disciplines.
Part of the proud legacy that AFA has built over the years is that numerous works are in important private collections or have been acquired or exhibited by such prestigious museums as The Morgan Library & Museum, The Museum of American Illustration, The Charles M. Schulz Museum, San Diego Museum, LACMA, Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art, New Britain Museum of American Art, Vero Beach Museum of Art, Chicago Museum of Science and Industry, Grand Rapids Art Museum, Walt Disney Family Museum and The Bowers Museum, to name a few.