Avis Frank: Joe Peña – Invisible Territory

Avis Frank Gallery continues their innovative exhibitions by featuring the work of Joe Peña. Peña received his MFA from Texas A&M University, Corpus Christi in 2005 and is a second generation Texan from Mexico. Although this historical point informs much of his work, it is not obvious in this particular exhibit.

The work on display is primarily formal portraits of raw meat products. While this is definitely not an exhibit likely to be approved by vegetarians, it does present a subject in a way we don’t often see. While many artists use food as construction materials, Peña uses a single piece of meat as the only element of his compositions. Technique-wise, he is obviously influenced by the old masters but does not execute photorealistc paintings; there are blurry edges and very flat light.

Also on exhibit are some human portraits, the most interesting of which are oil on galvanized steel that have been shot with a shotgun. These small portraits have us wondering if these are vegetarians which Peña is making an ethical statement about. After all, artists don’t shy away from violence, do they?

Avis Frank has installed two bodies of work which inform each other in a way I am guessing Peña didn’t see coming!

Metallic portrait, $700

Metallic portrait, $700

Metallic portrait, $700

Metallic portrait, $700

La Lengua (study), 29" x 48", $2800

La Lengua (study), 29″ x 48″, $2800


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Tripas, 29" x 48", $3500

Tripas, 29″ x 48″, $3500

The Butcher's Son, 36" x 24", $3000

The Butcher’s Son, 36″ x 24″, $3000

At the exhibit's closing

At the exhibit’s closing

Installation view of the metallic portraits

Installation view of the metallic portraits

 

The Metallic Portraits series

The Metallic Portraits series

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