Ylli Haruni: A Visionary Impressionist Artist A native of Albania, Ylli Haruni graduated from the prestigious Academy of Arts in Tirana in 1976. He went on to achieve national recognition and acclaim with numerous paintings featured in the permanent collection of the Albanian National Art Gallery and Museum. National honors continued to be bestowed upon Haruni in the following decade as the Albanian National Assembly awarded him with the Medal Naim Frasheri in 1985 Scenographer) and 1989 (Artist). In 1991, Haruni moved to Greece, where he continued to hone his impressionist skills before emigrating to the United States in 1994. His paintings and finely-detailed drawings — featuring landscapes, portraits and still life — had been a fixture at the International Artexpo in the U.S. and Canada from 2005 to 2013. Haruni currently resides in Niagara Falls, New York, where his work continues to win awards and receive critical acclaim through exhibits in local and regional galleries, including the Rockland Center for the Arts, River Art Gallery and Niagara Arts and Cultural Center. The impressionist artist, who has 45 years of experience teaching in art schools and plein air workshops in Europe, the U.S. and Canada, remains active in his studio and enjoys painting outdoors all year round in the Niagara Region. In addition to a number of regional galleries currently featuring Haruni’s artwork, more than 1,000 of his pieces are displayed and available through Fine Art America, one of the most comprehensive online art marketplaces in the world. A Sampling of Haruni’s Awards in the Past Decade: 2010 – Present 2010: 1st Place, Internazionale di Pittura, Scultura e Grafica, New York, “Let’s Talk” (Charcoal and Pastel Sketch on Canson Paper) 2013: 2nd Place, Plein Air 757 Competition, Virginia (Top 40 Plein Air Artists), “Silver Morning” (Oil on Canvas) 2014: People’s Choice Award for Overall Best Work, Niagara Arts & Cultural Center, “Rain in Lewiston Waterfront” (Oil on Canvas) 2016: 1st Place, Annual Brampton Live Art Competition, Brampton, Ontario, “Rainy Day in Downtown Brampton” (Oil on Canvas) 2017: 2nd Place, Annual Art on the Riverwalk Competition, Buffalo / Niagara Falls,“Red Coach Inn” (Oil on Canvas) 2018: 1st Place, Annual Artists & Friends Exhibition, Niagara Arts & Cultural Center, “Niagara Falls” (Oil on Canvas) 2018: Silver Medal & People’s Choice Award, Ontario Plein Air Society Challenge, “Action” (Oil on Canvas) 2019: Best in Show, River Art Gallery, “Just Buffaloes” Exhibition, Niagara Falls, “Buffalo” (Oil on Canvas) For a more comprehensive list of Ylli Haruni’s work, visit his website: https://www.minneapolisartstudio.com/