My sense of place and time pleasantly dissolve whenever I enter David Hollander’s Upper East Side apartment. Perhaps this feeling arises from a unique mix of the sky-blue ceiling, the aged wood floors, a few decades worth of his vibrant paintings adorning the walls, wonderful Hindu deity sculptures, the thriving and leafy plants by the large living room window, the low tables, Indian fabrics, guitars, the crowded shelves full of loved books, yoga props, and his easel that always supports an artwork in progress. Maybe this sense is just from positive energy filling the space.

David, in his home studio.

Before I continue, I want to mention that my words can only attempt to describe David, a multi-talented and innovative individual who is well recognized for sharing his knowledge of yoga in New York for nearly 15 years. I am grateful to have met David over 2 years ago. In addition to learning so much from him in the yoga studio, as a visual artist and musician, I have been inspired by how David’s painting and music have naturally become a part of his yogic sadhana. He has achieved a balance between these three practices that is eclectic yet concisely interrelated.

a detail of Ganesha, a work in progress.

David is a classically trained, western painter who incorporates more global concepts and themes into his current work. He attended the New York High School of Art & Design and has taken courses at the Art Students League and the National Academy of Design. David also lived in the Loire Valley in France and studied with Ted Jacobs at the Academy Albert du Fois. Today, Eastern mythology and philosophy is threaded throughout many of his works. The calming and lively combination of vivacious colors and more organic, earthy tones gives a therapeutic and comforting aura to the paintings and develops a conversation between the real and mystical.

David’s easel.

David is gifted in his ability to render the human body (his deep understanding of anatomy from yoga must help) and often integrates beautiful figures holding yogasanas into the paintings. In addition to working with the figure, David recently completed a beautiful series of complex, geometric yantras (symbolic images used in meditation). The photographs below only capture a tiny bit of his inspirational work. (Some is and more will soon be available for viewing at www.sunandmoonarts.com and www.davidmichaelhollander.com.)

I mentioned that David is a musician. He is a fantastic guitarist who creates eclectic and engaging pieces with Sanskrit chants and modern compositions. He has studied singing with Takhar Utkarsh, a fantastic teacher and performer from Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh. No class of Davids is complete without this soulful music. I’ll never forget an evening when we were coincidentally in Mysore last August. He led an improvised chant session at the Mysore Mandala, the studio of his teacher V. Sheshadri, who David expresses his deepest gratitude towards. I’ve heard a rumor that David may make a recording sometime soon. Let’s hope!

David performing a variation of Pincha Mayurasana in front of one of his more personal works (a portrait of his dog, Mr. Monte inside a yantra).

So, this is just a little something about my dear friend and teacher David Hollander! David, who is one of the founders of New York Yoga, recently started a Mysore Ashtanga program there Monday through Friday from 7:30 to 9:15am. He also holds a vinyasa class at New York Yoga on Wednesday and Friday nights. Plus, some of his paintings are on their walls! In addition, David teaches at Yoga Sutra, holds private classes, and has occasional workshops at the Ananda Ashram and Exhale Spa.
Finally, I would like to thank David for his time and energy and for never allowing me to forget how holistic and multi-faceted yoga and art can be.

Self-portrait of David

Drawing and painting sketches

the painter’s palette