Interview with the Artist
- What is your background? When did you start painting? Did you go to art school or are you self taught?
I began art a very early age. First graphite, charcoal and dry pastels. I started working in oil and acrylic about 10 years ago. Now I work in a little bit of everything.
When I was younger I drew models from ads in fashion magazines. By more luck than design I was able to turn that experience into a career as a commercial makeup artist for TV, film and print campaigns.
After almost two decades in the industry, I decided to shift my focus to fine art full time. I have been a full time artist for six years now. I’m self-taught in everything I do.
- Tell us about your upcoming show at Kaneko Gallery, how did that come about?
In 2018 I had my first solo show called “HEAD” (a collection of portraits) at WAL (working artists lofts) and Patricia came to see the work. I’d never met her, we’d only communicated on social media at that point.
She took a look at my work, asked me about the show, we had a good dialog, and she asked if I’d be interesting in showing at Kaneko. I asked Patricia if I could do a show that was strictly political and she thought it was cool so here we are.
- When did you decide that you wanted it to be political in nature? Is your work always political?
I wanted to do a political show because it is subject matter I have never approached before and I knew it would be difficult.
I have never thrown myself into my work as much as I have with this show.
After this experience I will always do some political work, I feel almost obligated to at this point. I can’t explain it, but I do.
Much of the subject matter has been eyeopening and disheartening. I am a second-generation grandson to a Mexican, immigrant farmer, so it is also very personal.
- What kind of reactions do you get from people who have seen your work?
The reactions from my work have been as varied as the people who sees the work, I suppose, but there has always been a reaction.
I remember one couple stopping dead in their tracks to look at a piece. Silent. They just stopped. (it was a dark but not disturbing portrait) It kinda freaked them out I think. That makes me very happy.
- For people who disagree with, or feel upset by your art, what do you hope they take away from it?
I never know how my work will be received, I just hope for the best.
People tell me they think about my work, sometimes days after seeing it.
For me, if my work resonates with people like that, if it makes them feel something, then the piece is a success. Their response, positive or negative is not within my control; so I don’t think about it-at all.
First and foremost I want my work to move you, I want you to walk away and have a dialog about what you saw. If you disagree with anything, I respect that.
If the work from this show upsets you, I’m good with that-it should. This is the world we are living in and it is broken.
“DYSTOPIA” 2016-2020 Is a body of work that I wanted to serve as a time capsule or a record of the past 4 years. I want it to provide a glimpse of some of the issues many have faced under Trump.
Hopefully, in time, it serve as a reminder of where we were, and a warning never to return.