CLOSE TO THE MEMORY OF – DERRICK VELASQUEZ

NOVEMBER 7 – DECEMBER 22, 2023
MEET THE ARTIST & RECEPTION: Friday, November 10, 6 – 8 PM | Talk at 7 PM

Pentimenti Gallery is excited to welcome back Derrick Velasquez for a solo exhibition, Close To The Memory Of.

Close To The Memory Of features Derrick’s Untitled series of wall-hanging marine vinyl works. The gallery will be graced with new works displaying bold and bright colors that show off Derrick’s mastery of color theory. Please join us to meet the artist & reception on November 10th from 6 – 8 pm, talk at 7 pm.

Derrick Velasquez’s Untitled series is a mesmerizing fusion of marine vinyl strips artfully layered over a wooden sculpture. The accumulation of hundreds of layers results in a transformative effect as they begin to embrace the contours of the underlying wood. With this action, the ends of the vinyl strips gracefully curl, striking a delicate equilibrium between weight and lightness. The deliberate arrangement of colors is an ode to intentionality, an intricate dance choreographed by the artist’s vision. Every layer of vinyl resembles a brushstroke, akin to the expressive strokes made by a painter on a canvas. Derrick’s aptitude lies not only in his skill but in his ability to convey a symphony of emotions through this vibrant palette.

After experiencing the direct impact of climate change and medical turbulence within his circle, Derrick has been deeply touched at his core. Through the challenges, the outcomes have fostered stronger connections within his community and provided opportunities to understand nature on its changing journey. Velasquez states that “slowly building these sculptures becomes akin to layers upon layers of the experiences and connections we make inviting a perceptual encounter and a tactile experience.”

Derrick Velasquez received his BA from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and his MFA from Ohio State University. He exhibited his works at the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, the Boulder Museum of Contemporary Art, Black Cube Nomadic Art Museum, Denver, CO; Herron School of Art and Design, Indianapolis, IN; Drexel University, Pearlstein Gallery, Philadelphia, PA; Center for Visual Art, Denver, VAC University of Colorado, Boulder, RedLine Contemporary Art Center, Denver, CO; FOCA Biennial, New Mexico Museum of Art, Santa Fe, NM; Arvada Center for the Arts, Arvada, CO; and more. He has been awarded by MacDowell Colony Fellow 2019; MassMoCA Assets for Artist Residency ’18-’19; Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters and Sculptors Grant 2017; and Black Cube Nomadic Art Museum Artist Fellow 2015. His work is in the public collections of Temple University, Philadelphia, PA; Metropolitan State University of Denver, CO; Miami University, Oxford, OH; Colorado Convention Center, and numerous private collections.

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