Even so, there was a terror in the air | Pentimenti Gallery

Even so, there is a terror in the air
LA VAUGHN BELLE

DIALOGUE & RECEPTION | Saturday, April 27
Reception | 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Dialogue | discussion from 5 – 5:30 PM

Even so, there is a terror in the air marks the first solo exhibition of La Vaughn Belle at Pentimenti Gallery.

La Vaughn Belle embarks on a journey to reimagine the Caribbean landscape in the aftermath of catastrophic histories. At the heart of this exhibition, La Vaughn presents her ongoing series of collage works on paper titled Storm (How to Imagine The Tropicalia as Monumental). Drawing inspiration from the relentless forces of hurricanes, seas, and lands, Belle transcends the notion of destruction to embrace the regenerative potential of these natural phenomena. Through salvaged materials from her storm-ravaged studio, Belle weaves together torn fragments to evoke the resilience and tenacity of Caribbean inhabitants. This series serves as a testament to the enduring spirit of the region, inviting viewers to contemplate new geographies.

Additionally, Belle presents her compelling series Swarm, which delves into the archives of the Danish West Indies. La Vaughn alters the photographs by making hundreds of cuts and burns. The amorphous interventions bend the time and space of staged and constructed images during the colonial era. Her marks disrupt the conventional narratives of social status and wealth represented through the imagery.

La Vaughn Belle’s Even so, there is a terror in the air exhibition challenges viewers to confront the complexities of history, nature, and memory. Through a rigorous interrogation of the past and a visionary exploration of alternative futures, Belle extends a compelling invitation to engage with the current dynamic and process of decolonization.

La Vaughn Belle received her BA and MA from Columbia University, New York, NY. She received her MFA from the Instituto Superior de Arte, Havana, Cuba. She has exhibited her work in museums and institutions such as the African American Museum in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA; Museo del Barrio New York, NY; Casa de las Americas Havana, Cuba; the Museum of the African Diaspora San Francisco, CA; Kunsthal Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, Denmark; and more. Her art is in the collections of the National Photography Museum Copenhagen, Denmark; Vestsjælland Museum, Denmark; National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.; Weltkulturen Museum, Frankfurt, Germany; the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico; and Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Richmond, VA. She has received numerous grants and awards including the Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant, 2019, and the Danish Arts Council Project Distinction Award, 2023.

For all inquiries, please contact us at mail@pentimenti.com or +1 215.625.9990.