Opening Jan. 29 at the Buenaventura Art Association’s downtown Ventura gallery is a solo exhibition featuring the work of Richard A. Yusim, whose intricate, graphical mandala-like paintings also are musical metaphors.

“Recent Work 2011-2012” will run through Feb. 23. Yusim and his art will be the focus from 5-8 p.m. Feb. 1 at the First Friday Ventura Gallery Crawl and at a reception from 4-7 p.m. the following day.

“My work is a celebration of an endless fascination with time, rhythm, texture, shape and pattern,” said the Ventura abstract artist. “These aspects of music consistently interest me both as a listener and percussionist. In my pictures, I search for ways to isolate and convey these music attributes visually.”

He applies water-based paint and drawing and collage materials to compose complex and kaleidoscopic symmetrical designs in black and white on wooden panels. This show contains pieces from 12-by-16 inches to 3-by-5 feet in size.

Yusim took up painting and drawing in 1985, his senior year in high school, and went on to earn a Bachelor of Studio Art degree from UC Irvine in 1991 and an MFA at Otis School of Art and Design in 1995. Toward the end of his studies, he began teaching creative art and activities at Arts and Services for the Disabled in Long Beach and left that in 2003 to work as a rehabilitation specialist with mentally ill adults.

“I discovered my dedication to art involves not only the exploration of my own passion for painting, drawing, music and film, but also using art education to help individuals with special needs,” Yusim said.

He turned in 2010 to making art full-time and this show highlights the output of his first two years. Examples of his work can be found online at the association website, www.buenaventuragallery.org, and on Etsy.

Buenaventura Gallery, at 700 E. Santa Clara St., is open noon-5 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.