crossconnectmag: Born in Spain, raised in Puerto Rico, and now living in NYC and Chicago, artist&nbs
crossconnectmag: Born in Spain, raised in Puerto Rico, and now living in NYC and Chicago, artist José Lerma is best known for producing playful, intricately rendered portraits of long-lost historical figures. In recent years, he has expanded his painting practice to include repurposing nontraditional materials such as reflective fabric and industrial carpet, and incorporating found objects such as electric keyboards and military parachutes. In dialogue with changing artistic practices over the past decade, Lerma not only explores various uses of materials for his paintings but also mulls over the medium’s relationship to history with a capital “H.” I make paintings and works about painting. I try my best to collapse the personal with the art historical and to fit both within a single frame. This is something many artists do, but I just wanted to make it central to my practice. Although the works and paintings change dramatically in terms of material, the common thread is some story I heard my mom say, for instance, or some ugly piece of furniture in their living room or some dorky thing I did in my youth. Then I try to fuse this with some historical event, person or artistic style. This sounds cheesy, but I always say that all art is about other art and about your parents. As far as artistic influences I like late Picasso, Morandi, Sean Landers, Piero della Francesca. Check out his website and flickr. posted by :-) Art is the only way to run away without leaving home - run with us ! -- source link