Peshi Haas has forged her own path in the art world, pushing the boundaries of abstract architecture through a continuous process of discovery. Her work reflects a deep curiosity, capturing the essence of structures and spaces in ways that defy conventional interpretation.
A graduate of the School of Visual Arts (SVA), Haas approaches her art with a unique blend of expertise and intuition. Her focus on abstract architecture seamlessly merges with her passion for travel, allowing her to document and reinterpret hidden alleyways, forgotten landscapes, and unnoticed corners of the world. She transforms these overlooked details into compelling visual narratives, offering viewers a fresh perspective on space and structure.
Haas’s artistic reach extends beyond architectural abstraction. Her project, “The Bricks That Built Us,” exemplifies her ability to weave emotion into her work. Through thoughtful compositions and layered storytelling, she creates art that resonates on a deeper level, engaging both the eye and the emotions of her audience.
One of Haas’s pieces comes from her travel series collection. This watercolor and ink painting, measuring 11×14 inches, is inspired by Moustiers-Sainte-Marie, a village in Southern France. Known for its old-world charm, the village is tucked between limestone cliffs, with cascading flowers, cobblestone streets, and an atmosphere that shifts between stillness and movement.
Haas captures the village’s essence with a simplicity that feels effortless but is deeply intentional. The scene unfolds with lanterns lining the streets, small flags strung across buildings, and fuchsia flowers bursting into view. The composition carries an organic balance—an interplay between human design and nature’s unruly beauty. The effect is immersive, drawing the viewer into a moment that feels both immediate and timeless.
Her approach to watercolor and ink allows her to emphasize the movement of light and air. The transparency of the watercolor medium mirrors the fleeting nature of travel itself—moments that shift with the day, colors that change as the sun moves. Ink adds definition, reinforcing the structure of the scene while allowing room for softness. The result is a work that is both precise and fluid, capturing not just the look of the village but the way it feels to wander its streets.
Haas has a way of finding the balance between detail and suggestion. In this painting, there’s a strong sense of place without a need for rigid realism. The loose strokes and soft edges create a dreamlike quality, as if the viewer is recalling a memory rather than observing a direct representation. That quality—the ability to paint not just what is seen but what is felt—is what gives her work its depth.
This piece speaks to the energy of Provence. It isn’t just about the buildings or the streets but about the rhythm of life within them. There’s the quiet hum of daily activity, the warmth of the sun against stone, the gentle sway of hanging lanterns. It’s a place in motion yet suspended in time, a paradox that Haas manages to express in just a few brushstrokes.
Haas’s work often embraces this idea—of spaces that hold history but remain alive. She has an instinct for capturing the overlooked, the almost-forgotten, and giving it a fresh perspective. Her travel series is not just about seeing new places but about seeing them differently. She isn’t interested in the postcard version of a location. Instead, she gravitates toward the side streets, the small details, the moments that would otherwise slip away unnoticed.
In this way, her painting of Moustiers-Sainte-Marie is more than a scene. It’s an invitation. To pause, to notice, to appreciate the in-between moments of travel. To let the world slow down for just long enough to see its colors shift, its lights flicker, its beauty settle into place.
