Brand New Gallery is pleased to present “The Last Upper”, José Lerma’s first solo exhibition at the gallery.
The show will feature a group of paintings from Lerma’s most recent body of work.
Born in Spain in 1971 and raised in Puerto Rico, José Lerma draws inspiration from his personal history, as well as historical figures and events, claiming that “all art is about other art and about your parents”.
Lerma explores conceptually and materially the medium of painting, recognizing it as a medium that, historically, has often been a vehicle for commemorating status and power.
“Portraiture has traditionally been a way to depicting status... The portraits were idealized, even theatrical…
They were instruments. Images serve that function”
Power remains a recurrent theme for Lerma, who had a background in social science and he studied law before taking a hard left turn to pursue contemporary high-concept art. Neither critical nor celebratory, Lerma’s approach to his subject...matter exposes paradoxes ranging from the site and context to his projects to the medium of painting itself.
Using varying methods and alternative materials, Lerma’s gestures and depictions continue to unfold upon investigation, his compositions are at one abstract and figurative, humorous and dark, chaotic and controlled, encouraging a deeper engagement with the content and narrative embedded in the work.
Entrada actualizada el el 29 may de 2017
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