ARTIST’S STATEMENT
Miguel Felipe is an artist deeply intrigued by the pervasive influence of commercial pop culture on our perceptions of reality. He probes the subjective nature of beauty and value, questioning the arbitrary lines drawn between the sacred and the profane. Why, he asks, do we elevate a plaster Virgin Mary while dismissing a plastic Mickey Mouse? Miguel's art seeks to expose these inherent contradictions, creating juxtapositions that challenge our complacency and force us to re-evaluate the artificial constructs that shape our world. Through a masterful blend of photorealism and irony, Felipe invites viewers to confront the often-unexamined assumptions we hold about art, culture, and societal values. He doesn't dictate answers, but rather sparks a critical dialogue about the forces that influence our preferences and beliefs. Miguel's artistic exploration is further enhanced by his embrace of mixed media. He skillfully combines painting and printmaking techniques, allowing him to merge contrasting elements in visually compelling ways. He finds inherent value in both the fluidity of painting and the controlled precision of printmaking. This duality mirrors his thematic concerns, creating a dynamic tension between the raw and the refined, the instinctive and the technical. Even within the structured confines of printmaking, Felipe welcomes the unexpected, allowing serendipity to play a role in the creative process. In doing so, he crafts artwork that is not only visually striking but also intellectually stimulating, prompting viewers to question the very foundations of their own aesthetic and cultural biases.
C / V
Exhibitions
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2023 “Puzzles” Project Parlor, Brooklyn, NY
2021 “Quiet Please / Pop Up” Tlaloc Studios, Los Angeles, CA
2017 “24/7/365 - Art Never Sleeps” Modern Multiples, Los Angeles, CA
2017 “Quiet Please” Ace/121, Los Angeles, CA
2016 “Okay Bye” Serio Press, Los Angeles, CA
2016 “Richard Duardo” The Muckenthaler Culture Center Gallery, Fullerton, CA
2016 “Richard Duardo” Cal State LA Fine Arts Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2016 “LA/SA”, Gravel Mouth Gallery, San Antonio,TX
2014 “El Velorio” Plaza de la Raza Boathouse Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2014 “Trece”, Plaza de la Raza Boathouse Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2013 “Quad Shot”, Coagula Curatorial Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2013 “The Hounds of Love” Cella Gallery, North Hollywood, CA
2010 “Shoulda Coulda Woulda” Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2010 “Old #@&*! & New Works”, The Factory Studio, Pasadena, CA
2010 “Opening” Modern Eden Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2008 “Jargon”, Mad Art Gallery, St. Louis, MO
2007 “Dia de los Muertos” Norwalk Cultural Arts Center, Mary Paxon Gallery, Norwalk, CA
2006 “The Skateboard Show 2”, 646 Design & Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2005 “Super Heroes & Villains”, Punch Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2004 “Dos”, Hotel Biron Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2004 “Ten”, Start SOMA Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2004 “Four Corners II”, 646 Design & Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2003 “No Parking”, The Canvas Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2003 “Abracadabra”, Point 360 Alternative Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2002 “The Skateboard Show ”, 646 Design & Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2002 “The Show ”, 646 Design & Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2002 “Motorcycling Show ”, 646 Design & Gallery / Levi’s, SF, NY, LA
2000 “Etchings”, San Francisco City College Gallery, San Francisco, CA
1994 “Summer Sessions”, American Council for the Arts, New York, NY
Residencies, Fellowships
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1997 Printmaking Fellowship, Kala Art Institute, Berkley, CA
1994 Painting Residency, Marie Walsh Sharpe Art Foundation, Colorado Springs, CO