SAVE THE DATE: Patrick McGrath Muniz “Credo” Opens at La Luz de Jesus – May 4th

La Luz de Jesus Gallery presents “CREDO” by Patrick McGrath Muniz. This marks the artist’s second exhibition with the gallery. CREDO explores and questions myths, assumptions, and beliefs in an age of political uncertainty and misinformation by connecting American Pop consumer culture and religion in paintings inspired by Spanish Colonial Iconography. The work presented responds to our current capitalist consumer driven society with its indifference to the rising threat of climate change by tracing its origins to the time of Columbus and the Spanish colonization of the “New World.” By adopting Renaissance painting techniques on canvas and panel reminiscent of Spanish colonial art, the artist able to emulate earlier indoctrination strategies and devices from the time of the conquest of the Americas.

After experiencing (hurricane) Harvey in Houston, where I now reside and witnessing Hurricane Maria passing over Puerto Rico where most of my family and friends still live, the issue of Climate Change became even more personal. The recent extreme weather events exposed tremendous social injustice, disaster capitalism, and discrimination against the poor and communities of color by the current U.S. administration. As an artist with a Roman Catholic background and growing up during the 1980’s and 90’s in the island of Puerto Rico, the oldest colony in the Western Hemisphere, I feel a deep interest in reconnecting with history and re-telling the story of climate change the way I know best, in drawings, paintings, and altarpieces. By appropriating figures and icons present in Art History, Pop Culture, Christian Iconography and Mythology, I depict scenes that mirror my own experience living in a world of stronger storms, fires, and floods as well as alternative facts and climate change denial. This re-contextualization of history allows me to start a discussion about what it means to be living under the influence of constant Wall St. propaganda, free market gospels and other consumerist doctrines that perpetually modify our appreciation towards history, nature and ourselves.

Patrick McGrath Muñiz is a Houston based artist from Puerto Rico and works primarily with oil paintings on canvas and retablos. His work is inspired by Renaissance, Baroque and Latin American colonial paintings while addressing issues such as colonialism, consumerism and climate change.

Exhibition:
“Credo” by Patrick McGrath Muniz
showing with Carrie Ann Baade
May 4-May 27

Opening Reception
Fri. May 4, 8-11 PM

Address:
La Luz de Jesus Gallery
4633 Hollywood Blvd,
Los Angeles, CA 90027