The Fourth Floor
curated by Pedro Velez
Western Exhibitions
Angelica Negron of Balún
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Edra Soto, Gisela Insuaste y Hector Arce Espadas
installation view of the Fourth Floor, a documentary by Pedro Velez at Western Exhibitions
February through May 2003
This exhibition is the first ever show devoted solely to paintings of Pedro Velez. Known primarily as a multi-media provocateur, Velez works as a conceptual artist, curator and writer. Few, however, know that Velez is also an accomplished "maker of things." Deceptively grungy, these post-minimalist paintings share the wit and imagination of his false exhibition announcements. Velez often starts with a found substrate (a ragged piece of masonite, huge chunks of styrofoam, discarded 2 x 4s, wood screws) and adds playful swaths of bouyant, pulsating acrylic paint, carefully applied fabrics and yarn, redeeming these humble materials. A critic once referred to Velez work as "painstakingly slipshod." Asked recently how these paintings could be described. Velez gave three answers:
"I think they are logical re-interpretations of a thousand other paintings made by a thousand other artists."
"Shit that goes well together."
"Sculptures with some paint on them."
more images:
Western Exhibitions
Pedro Velez studio in '99
Not Queer by Pedro Velez
Not Queer by Pedro Velez
