10 Latino Artists Who Stole The Show At Art Basel Miami
Latinos flourished at the 2015 Art Basel Miami.
As customary, this year's Art Basel Miami was jam-packed with artwork from Wynwood Walls to Miami Beach. Throughout the week, contemporary art critics and graffiti enthusiasts alike flocked to South Florida to celebrate a multiplicity of artists from across the globe and their most innovative creations.
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Major art shows like Wynwood's Spectrum and SCOPE on South Beach boasted some of the most uniquely crafted works of art, from hand sculptures inspired by Future's DS2 album, to thematic visuals hinting at the current unrest around the country. Swizz Beatz’s "Dean Collection" and Lenny Kravitz’s "Flash" exhibit displayed equally curious paintings and photographs, some of which seem to be telling stories about struggle and freedom.
In addition to the highly anticipated works by designer Sue Tsai and photographer Jonathan Mannion, this year's attendees were also treated to some much needed material by a slew of Latino artists, including Alex Yanes and Sergio Garcia, whose extraordinary illustrations and other visual pieces called for your undivided attention.
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See more oil paintings, hand-made sculptures, elaborate murals, and much more in the gallery above.
Ricardo Cardenas “Juego De Pelota”
Mexican artist Ricardo Cardenas was invited to display his latest work in his own exhibition at the Spectrum art show. Amongst his uniquely beautiful paintings, Cardenas included his acrylic painting on concrete, which represents his homeland’s ancestry. Using a mixture of light and dark colors, Cardenas depicts the indigenous people of Mexico as they play sports in the bright sun.
Viviana Zargon “Poíptico de Palais des Machines”
Marta Echazzerta “Cosmic Thinking”
Nicaraguan artist Marta Echazzerta knows what the average woman thinks about before they hit the town. She took to the canvas and painted the “cosmic thoughts” every woman has had about herself before they walk out the door. Since most woman treat their hair like gold, Echazzerta symbolizes how women put their hair together by etching unique designs into her hairdo. Her powder-white face allows the green lining on the left side of her face to stand out much like her strong chin.
Cinta Vidal “Sharing Homes”
Erni Vales "No Sleep Till Brooklyn"
Graffiti Erni Vales has generated works of art for some of the biggest names in the music industry from Lil Kim to Method Man. For Art Basel 2015, Vales propped his graffiti canvases out on display in his shop EVL World in Wynwood for all to enjoy (and hopefully purchase). His most recent piece reminds us of the city that never sleeps and one of the busiest boroughs on the island. The young man and woman are seen running the on Brooklyn Bridge and blowing money fast. There was “no half steppin’” for the creation of this dope piece.
Alex Yanes “The Uneven Pinion”
Amongst the plethora of sculptures at the SCOPE art show, Alex Yanes’ rendition of a chicken head is one of the most vibrant pieces in the gallery. The Cuban artist’s hand-cut, technicolor wooden sculpture displays various sections of a chicken’s head in numerous designs. All seven sections of the sculpture are completely different from each other yet blend well to create the overall image.
Luis Berros "Ballerina"
Although he’s well known for his graffiti murals, Miami native Luis Berros crafted the “Ballerina” painting on wood for the Spectrum show in Wynwood. The Cuban artist developed this little lady’s subtle yet infuriated glare off as she sits on the floor. Her tights look worn out and torn as if she’s been through a traumatic experience. The grey in the background clashes with the shades of pink and white, which could be mildly symbolic of the chaos she may have experienced.
Michael Vasquez “Family Portrait in Red, White & Black”
The Dean Collection was filled with diverse pieces of art including Michael Vasquez’s painting, which depicts family values we can all relate to. In the eyes of the average, law-abiding citizen, the acrylic/acrylic spray-painted work on canvas shows a group of gang members. To others, it’s a portrait of a band of brothers who ride together and will do anything for each other in the name of their brotherhood.
Alejandro Mendoza “Black Morning”
Cuban artist Alejandro Mendoza took earth colors like cloud white and jungle green to create a forest-like backdrop for a humble treehouse. Instead of the sun, the Miami based artist used a black sphere, which releases unique bubbles into the wind. The black moth seems to be fleeing the scene, which could represent the absence of the morning sun. The abstract, polyurethane painting was on display at Spectrum.
Sergio Garcia “For A Minute I Thought The Wall Was Leaning”
SCOPE featured plenty of abstract paintings and sculptures, but Sergio Garcia’s Dirty Sprite-inspired installation made onlookers do a double take. The oil & acrylic resin sculpture depicts someone pouring Future’s favorite concoction into a Styrofoam cup while rocking a diamond bracelet. The Texas-based artist’s trendy contribution to SCOPE was strategically placed near VH1’s “The Breaks” lounge, where several big names in music including Mack Wilds and French Montana admired the sculpture.
