The artwork features a ceramic face with striking, elongated eyes and an enigmatic expression. The face is adorned with five vibrant, sculpted flower heads in shades of red and orange, adding a surreal, almost mystical quality to the piece. The contrasting textures between the smooth ceramic surface and the textured, organic flower forms create a captivating visual tension. The artist's use of bold colors and unconventional materials suggests a playful exploration of the boundaries between the natural and the supernatural, inviting the viewer to ponder the deeper symbolic meaning behind this unique and thought-provoking work. ...
Drawing on his childhood in Morelia, Mexico, Raúl De Nieves crafts sculptures and installations which bring the bright, vivacious colours of his upbringing into the gallery space. Playing with scale and encapsulating a larger than life, drag aesthetic, De Nieves works with beading, ceramics, and lighting to create these enticing zones. A pearl encrusted figure may reach out their hand to visitors, bright hues from stain glass might filter into the space, or an enchanting ceramic visage adorned with a petalled headdress could meet viewer’s eyes. Aiming to bridge together feelings of pure happiness with a sense of melancholia, there is an immense emotional depth present within De Nieves’ installations. The sculptures appear to traverse bodily, carnival settings with a celestial, spirit realm, carving space for mourning and celebration all at once. The artist speaks of his own experience of losing his father at the age of two, and his practice being a way to develop their personal relationship, whilst more broadly, artmaking allows him to connect with his Mexican heritage whilst living in Brooklyn. ...
Established in 2020, Fitzpatrick Gallery is focused on an international program of curated projects in site-specific venues worldwide, and on-site exhibitions at their primary location in Paris, inaugurated in September 2021 in the Marais gallery district at 123 rue de Turenne. They are involved in every level of production with their represented artists, working in close collaboration with institutions, publishing houses, advisory firms, and other partners. Fitzpatrick Gallery builds on the legacy of Freedman Fitzpatrick which was established in 2013 with locations in Los Angeles and Paris. ...
