ILLUSIONISMS of a Post-War & Contemporary Era

Art of The World Gallery
July 22nd – October 15th, 2022

HOUSTON, TX (July 20th, 2022) | Art of the World Gallery is thrilled to present its new exhibition titled “Illusionisms”, by post-war and contemporary artist Santiago Cárdenas. A selection of twenty-six representative pieces of the painter, whose several artworks are part of MoMA‘s permanent collection–presenting the deep exploration of painting practices with intentional enigmatic purpose; and the expressive use of color along-with objects from daily life.

The “Illusionisms” exhibition offers a full perspective of artist’s various themes and series during Cárdenas’ remarkable career, from his iconic chalkboards to the fluxioned colorful abstracts with everyday still-life objects. The distinctive show is open to the public from July 22nd, at 2201 Westheimer Rd. Houston, 77098, located in the hearts of River Oaks area | HOURS: Monday to Saturday | 10am – 7pm.

Santiago Cárdenas’ overriding premise, consists not of trying to deceive the eye, but of disrupting the viewer’s thoughts and causing a questioning of the sight. The artist’s illusory abstraction purpose is to depict objects on the canvas, not necessarily a portal into another world, such as in traditional figurative painting. It is not only about his fruitful confluence between the classic and the modern, nor about his unparalleled technical perfection, but about the obsessive determination to break down color. Instead, artist unravels light and reinvent objects and figures from a simple evocation and a fleeting reflection to produce a game of illusionism.

Born in Bogotá, 1937, Cárdenas grew up in Colombia until the age of ten years old, when his family decided to move to New York, where he ultimately followed the art path. After his military service took him to Europe, where he had the opportunity to visit many museums like Louvre and Prado, followed by attending Yale University in the 60s, graduating in fine arts. While studying, there was a booming of several vanguardist movements of the mid-century; therefore, Cárdenas’ work has many influences from hyperrealism to pop art.

Presently Santiago Cárdenas is one of most respected figures of the Latin-American art scene. His artworks has been exhibited in important museums such as Museo Rufino Tamayo in Mexico City, Centre Pompidou in Paris, and Reina Sofia in Madrid, also found in permanent collections like the MoMA in New York, Art Institute of Chicago; Blanton Museum of Art, University of Texas, Austin; Museo de Arte Moderno de Santiago, Chile;Museo de Bellas Artes, Caracas, to name a few,  and had participations in the world’s most renowned and major biennales in Venice, Paris, São Paulo, and more.

Illusionisms” solo show will be on view from July 22nd until October 15th, 2022. For private events and tours please contact the gallery.

uñoz Vera’s successor, the gifted Carlos Vega (Chile) is celebrated for his impressive adaptations of 20th Century masterpieces and recognition of the successful souvenir culture in his well-known, Museum Series.

The compositions by this wonderful group are all dedicated to figurative and realistic artworks.

Miraculous hyper-realistic humanlike artworks by Serbian American sculptor Marc Sijan, such as his iconic Security Guards, usually at the gallery entrance, a Texan Cowboy, as well as an amusing Maid. Included in the hyperrealist category, appear the famous swimmers in two and tri-dimensional mediums – highlighting canvas serigraphs with diamond dust – by New Yorker Carole A. Feuerman.
 

Furthermore, accompanying the show are enchanting characters and powerful color-palette in the new paintings by Miami-resident Julio Larraz; and the mastery of magic realism by Spanish Cristóbal Toral, featuring his epic suitcases and time/voyage related works.

 

ABOUT ART OF THE WORLD GALLERY  

Art of the World Gallery is a 6,500-square-foot blue-chip gallery located at 2201 Westheimer Road in the River Oaks neighborhood of Houston, Texas. A leading modern & contemporary art gallery, representing some of the most influential living artists and masters of the 20th and 21st Centuries from around the globe. Art of the World Gallery is known for developing dedicated relationships with renowned artists, acquiring the majority of inventory directly from them or their estates. Featuring a prominent art collection comprised of works by masters including Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso, Joan Miró, Robert Indiana, Wifredo Lam, Rufino Tamayo, Fernando Botero, as well as, acclaimed and cutting-edge artists like Cristóbal Toral, Carole A. Feuerman, Manolo Valdés, Julio Larraz, Sophia Vari, Javier Marín, Chung Kwang Young, Mr. Brainwash, amongst others. With more than 20 years of experience in the art business, Co-Owners & Directors, Liliana Molina and Mauricio Vallejo, select their artists and artworks with diligence and integrity, considering the positive impact of art in any space and offering an accessible and transparent approach to art collecting. Dedicated to providing a memorable experience the gallery offers private, public and corporate art consulting, curatorial design, packing, transportation and installation services, as well as a top-venue available for private and corporate events.

The gallery’s exhibition — The Colors that Remain— begins August 5th through October 3rd, 2020. No entrance fee is required. Art of the World Gallery is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., and Sundays by appointment only. For more information, please visit www.ArtoftheWorldGallery.com or call 713-526-1201. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter.