<< Peace of mind
(Stephen Mueller / Cardwell Jimmerson Contemporary Art)

After a 15-year hiatus from the L.A. scene, the New York-based Mueller is returning with a series of images that riff on the Tibetan religious paintings called thangka. Although Mueller does not feature beatifically smiling Buddhas floating on lotus flowers, he does juxtapose crisply rendered abstract forms against soft-focus backgrounds.

"The imagery is derived from Eastern iconography," Mueller said. "Tibetan thangka painting . . . was only a starting point. I've always been interested in Japanese prints, Persian miniatures and Indian tantra painting. So this is all of those things put together with a little bit of a Pop sensibility."

Although Mueller is Buddhist, he considers his work to be less religious imagery than "personal puzzle." The paintings double as optical illusions: At first, 3-D shapes pop out of the blurry background, but a closer look reveals the canvas to be, well, just a canvas. "My intention is to make a meditative device to bring the viewer back to the present," Mueller said.

Sound like something your yoga teacher says?

If you go:

'STEPHEN MUELLER: NEW PAINTINGS'
WHERE: Cardwell Jimmerson Contemporary Art, 8568 Washington Blvd., Culver City

WHEN: Opens 6 to 8 p.m. Sat.; through Dec. 15

PRICE: Free

INFO: (310) 815-1100, www.cardwelljimmerson.com