Sergio Nates: Chromatic Secrets

Sergio nates: Chromatic Secrets

June 17 - July 22, 2023

Press Release

Ro2 Art is thrilled to present Chromatic Secrets, an exhibition of paintings by San Francisco-based painter Sergio Nates. The exhibition will open June 17 and remain on view through July 29, 2023, at Ro2 Art located at 2606 Bataan St., Dallas, TX.

Sergio Nates utilizes spontaneous bursts of geometric shape and abstraction as a vehicle to explore the mind. He assesses the human psyche focusing on confinement and luminosity. His use of mark-making and color is meant to express the mind’s reaction to isolation and sensory deprivation. His works may seem spontaneous in shape and form, but every element of his works are intentionally positioned and placed. This exploration of the mind serves the goal of fostering a greater understanding of the human condition.

show Statement

In Chromatic Secrets, Sergio Nates invites viewers on a profound exploration of the human psyche within the realms of confinement and illumination. Through a collection of non-objective paintings, this thought-provoking show delves into the captivating interplay of light and the transformative power of art, drawing inspiration from the phenomenon of phosphenes—the luminous manifestations that dance within the mind during periods of isolation and sensory deprivation.

Within the curated space of Chromatic Secrets, Sergio Nates' artworks serve as portals to extraordinary inner landscapes, embodying the essence of Prisoners Cinema. The exhibition showcases two main bodies of work: "Stratification: Witness" and "Deities of Human Origin," both created by Nates. Each painting, with its abstract and evocative forms, presents a visual testament to the emotional and psychological experiences of confinement and the inherent yearning for luminosity.

Immersing viewers in arresting visual narratives, the exhibition invites contemplation of the delicate balance between darkness and illumination. Through the intention to evoke a myriad of emotions, Chromatic Secrets provokes introspection and fosters a deeper connection to the universal human condition.

Drawing inspiration from the phenomenon of phosphenes, Chromatic Secrets sheds light on the transformative power of the mind within the confinements of Prisoners Cinema. As viewers engage with Sergio Nates' artworks, they are invited to explore their own perceptions and delve into the luminous depths that emerge from within.

About the Artist

Sergio Nates (b. Mexico City, 1965) is a San Francisco Bay Area-based and Jewish-Mexican abstract painter. His geometric abstraction paintings demonstrate his training as both an industrial designer and an architect. Some of this work exhibits the strong influence of Mid-20th Century Modernism with contemporary and vibrant colors.

His more recent work is decidedly not geometric. It is balanced and elegant with beautiful explosions of color on strong, saturated backgrounds. It also presents a juxtaposition of the apparent exploding confetti with the delicacy and detail that could be found in a fine old Dutch still life. Undergirding the frequent delicacy is the subtle, strong impasto of the flecks of light and color. This three-dimensional quality invites the viewer to look more deeply and to discover new insights into the work.

Nates graduated from Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) School of Industrial Design, and he holds a Master’s Degree in Architectural Monuments Restoration from the same university.

Nates has exhibited extensively in Mexico, particularly in Mexico City. His works have been shown in Guatemala City; Toulouse, France; the Netherlands; and in the United States at the Dallas Museum of Art and the de Young Museum in San Francisco. In 2021 Nates was invited by the Consulate General of Mexico, San Francisco to participate in the Second and third Binational Conference for U.S.-based Mexican artists.

Nates’ studio is in the Benicia Arsenal in Benicia, California.Sergio Nates is a Mexican-American painter based in the San Francisco Bay Area, known for his abstract works that showcase his background in industrial design and architecture. His earlier paintings are characterized by geometric abstraction and a modernist aesthetic, while his more recent work is characterized by a more organic and fluid style, with pops of vibrant color against strong, saturated backgrounds. Nates' paintings often have a three-dimensional quality, with a delicate balance between explosiveness and detail.