Armando Sebastian
Artist Statement
My first trip out of my home town was to Mexico City. when I was 5 years old, there are a few things that I remember very clearly: our visit to Teotihuacan; the two pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, with stone carvings of snakes and humans all over the place ,people praying ,people picnicking, people selling all kinds of things; calacas, little Dioses (Aztec Idols) ,hats and Mexican candies. The Cathedral …the magnificence of this building, the smell of old wood, the silence, the sense of the reverence and devotion, the beauty of the saints and angels in the retablo of the central altar. I also remember the grand Zocalo, the Alameda Central, and all the wonderful structures built by Mexicans hands while driving around the city in my grandpa’s old truck listening to Trio Ballads. This was an enchanted world to me, a unique mixture of the Aztec Kingdom and the Spaniards.
Once when we were walking in downtown Mexico City I felt a mysterious presence in the air, I remember being so excited because my mom was always telling me tales about almost everything, I think that stimulated my imagination and all those things made me fall in love with my culture and the ancient Mexico.
Since then I have felt a strong connection with my people, and I draw and paint using bright colors inspired by Mexican folk art, and the human body.Rooted in autobiographical details from my childhood and adolescence you'll find yourself into the atmosphere of human pain and vulnerability reminiscent of the ex-voto paintings.My work also includes paintings with reference to poets, music icons and symbols amid vibrant landscapes. In a world of child-like fascination with elements like the folds of cloth, texture of insect wings, wallpaper stains, or color of bird feathers, rooms transformed into tropical gardens in an enigmatic way I like to lead the viewer to explore questions of identity and gender. Perhaps my Art can most closely identify with the genre of magical realism.
CV
Solo Exhibitions
2018 The Garden of Good & Evil
Lillian Bradshaw Gallery,Dallas Tx
2015 Vera Cruz
AGM University ,Dallas Tx
Group Exhibitions
2018 New Texas Talent ,State wide Juried Exhibition
Craighead Green Gallery , Dallas Tx
2018 OP Summer Exhibition
Onishi Gallery ,New York NY.
2018 MariconX
Latino Cultural Center ,Dallas Tx
2017 4th Regional Juried Art Exhibition
Artspce111 Gallery ,Fort Worth Tx
2017 Juried Art Exhibition
Brookheaven School of the Arts,Dallas Tx.
2017 Hecho en Dallas
Latino Cultural Center Dallas,Dallas Tx.
2017 The Heart Exhibition
BHC ,Dallas Tx
2015 International Art Exhibition
University of Texas,Tyler Tx
2015 Hecho en Dallas Juried Exhibition
Latino Cultural Center,Dallas Tx
2015 ArtUrbanscene
The Ant Collony Gallery,Dallas Tx
2014 Hecho en Dallas Juried Exhibition
LCC Dallas
2011 Syria
Arlington Musuem of Arts
2011 Souljourn Art Exhibition
XUE Gallery
2011 Synergy Artshow
TC Collage Fort Worth
Artist Statement
My first trip out of my home town was to Mexico City. when I was 5 years old, there are a few things that I remember very clearly: our visit to Teotihuacan; the two pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, with stone carvings of snakes and humans all over the place ,people praying ,people picnicking, people selling all kinds of things; calacas, little Dioses (Aztec Idols) ,hats and Mexican candies. The Cathedral …the magnificence of this building, the smell of old wood, the silence, the sense of the reverence and devotion, the beauty of the saints and angels in the retablo of the central altar. I also remember the grand Zocalo, the Alameda Central, and all the wonderful structures built by Mexicans hands while driving around the city in my grandpa’s old truck listening to Trio Ballads. This was an enchanted world to me, a unique mixture of the Aztec Kingdom and the Spaniards.
Once when we were walking in downtown Mexico City I felt a mysterious presence in the air, I remember being so excited because my mom was always telling me tales about almost everything, I think that stimulated my imagination and all those things made me fall in love with my culture and the ancient Mexico.
Since then I have felt a strong connection with my people, and I draw and paint using bright colors inspired by Mexican folk art, and the human body.Rooted in autobiographical details from my childhood and adolescence you'll find yourself into the atmosphere of human pain and vulnerability reminiscent of the ex-voto paintings.My work also includes paintings with reference to poets, music icons and symbols amid vibrant landscapes. In a world of child-like fascination with elements like the folds of cloth, texture of insect wings, wallpaper stains, or color of bird feathers, rooms transformed into tropical gardens in an enigmatic way I like to lead the viewer to explore questions of identity and gender. Perhaps my Art can most closely identify with the genre of magical realism.
CV
Solo Exhibitions
2018 The Garden of Good & Evil
Lillian Bradshaw Gallery,Dallas Tx
2015 Vera Cruz
AGM University ,Dallas Tx
Group Exhibitions
2018 New Texas Talent ,State wide Juried Exhibition
Craighead Green Gallery , Dallas Tx
2018 OP Summer Exhibition
Onishi Gallery ,New York NY.
2018 MariconX
Latino Cultural Center ,Dallas Tx
2017 4th Regional Juried Art Exhibition
Artspce111 Gallery ,Fort Worth Tx
2017 Juried Art Exhibition
Brookheaven School of the Arts,Dallas Tx.
2017 Hecho en Dallas
Latino Cultural Center Dallas,Dallas Tx.
2017 The Heart Exhibition
BHC ,Dallas Tx
2015 International Art Exhibition
University of Texas,Tyler Tx
2015 Hecho en Dallas Juried Exhibition
Latino Cultural Center,Dallas Tx
2015 ArtUrbanscene
The Ant Collony Gallery,Dallas Tx
2014 Hecho en Dallas Juried Exhibition
LCC Dallas
2011 Syria
Arlington Musuem of Arts
2011 Souljourn Art Exhibition
XUE Gallery
2011 Synergy Artshow
TC Collage Fort Worth
