Kamran Khavarani created his own art genre, but he wasn’t sure what to name it. That’s why he called Albert Boime, a late UCLA art history professor, who later hailed Khavarani as the leader of a new artistic movement called “abstract romanticism.” Khavarani is a decorated architect-turned-painter whose work has inspired research on art therapy and was the subject of Boime’s final book, “The Birth of Abstract Romanticism.” Khavarani said the name “abstract romanticism” may seem like an oxymoron, but it describes his art perfectly. Read more...

Photo: Painter Kamran Khavarani, known for developing the art genre of abstract romanticism, displays his current gallery in Westwood, where visitors can walk through the gallery with 3-D glasses to fully experience Khavarani’s work.