DALLAS CONTEMPORARY

patrick martinez: histories

03 april 2024 – 01 september 2024

dallas contemporary is pleased to present patrick martinez: histories, opening april 3, 2024. the expansive solo exhibition will present a collection of brand new works alongside a survey of pieces representative of the artist’s distinctive multidisciplinary practice. histories draws attention to often overlooked and ephemeral city scenes embedded with elements reflective of intergenerational cultural exchange. featuring sculpture, dynamic installations, large-scale multi-media paintings, and the artist’s iconic neon works, the exhibition transports the collective artifacts, sentiments, memories, and energies of los angeles and comparable latinx, filipinx, and bipoc communities into the dallas contemporary space.

“we are thrilled to bring a comprehensive exhibition by la-based artist patrick martinez to dallas contemporary,” said dallas contemporary executive director carolina alvarez-mathies. “with california and texas both having the largest latinx populations in the united states, dc is an ideal platform for showcasing martinez’s powerful works, which unify immigrant and bipoc communities throughout the united states through a strong, shared visual language.”

a los angeles native, martinez creates works that reflect on the ever-evolving landscape of the city he calls home, considering the passage of time and its impact on the lived environment and, by consequence, on the multicultural communities that inhabit it. influenced by the rich visual traditions of the city, his paintings draw from an ephemeral mural tradition with deep roots in local mexican american histories, placing it in dialogue with the visual histories of other communities such as those of the filipinx and native american communities, among others. from mayan warriors to flowering bougainvillea, from emiliano zapata to feathered serpents, from sitting bull to the labor organizer and activist larry itliong, martinez’s imagery is culled from a variety of mesoamerican, latin american, latinx, filipinx, and indigenous sources, yet stand together as part of a larger communal cultural legacy that spans across cultural communities in the region as well as in many parts of the united states, including texas.

martinez’s approach incorporates vernacular everyday images and architectural forms, offering a contemplation on the ephemeral nature of american urban visual histories. these narratives are frequently depicted on the walls of community centers, primary schools, and corner markets in neighborhoods across the u.s. due to the turnover of these spaces, the historical narratives become increasingly intricate over time with their complexities mirroring the rich cultural exchange sparked by migration.

drawing our focus to the progression of these histories, martinez prompts viewers to reflect on the histories being made in real time. his work recognizes inequities within the criminal justice and education systems, as well as within the immigration enforcement system replete with ethnic and socio-economic disparities. with the use of familiar visual languages like vinyl banners, window bars, neon, and tile, patrick martinez: histories places american histories in dialogue with the larger ever-evolving urban landscape, and lends hope by combating darkness with light.

patrick martinez: histories is curated by rafael barrientos martínez. this exhibition was originated by former dc adjunct curator pedro alonzo. the realization of patrick martinez: histories is made possible through the generous support of the charlie james gallery and the judelson family foundation.

who’s afraid of cartoony figuration?

03 april 2024 – 22 september 2024

dallas contemporary is pleased to present who’s afraid of cartoony figuration?, opening april 3, 2024. the multi-dimensional group exhibition, curated by adjunct curator alison m. gingeras, presents works by artists karolina jabłońska, sally saul, tabboo! and umar rashid that dare to mix the levity of cartoons, comics, and commercial illustration with some of the most pressing socio-political subjects of our day.

beginning in the mid-twentieth century, a distinct lineage of figurative painters emerged that appropriated the visual styles of cartoons, comics, and commercial illustration. this stylistic choice was made at great risk, with the gravitas of the socio-political content at hand oftentimes being obscured or downplayed by the so-called ‘unserious’ cultural associations around their chosen formal language.

famed pop artists from the 60s such as andy warhol (1928-1987) and roy lichtenstein (1923-1997) gained early acceptance for their cultural critique of american popular culture and capitalism, thereby exempting them from suspicion. however, the subsequent generation of painters, operating beyond the “pure” confines of american pop’s use of cartoony figurative language, was considered to be in violation of the established codes of serious figurative representation.

cartoony figuration emerged in the 60s and 70s with the chicago imagism movements, led by artists like jim nutt (b. 1938), gladys nilsson (b. 1940), peter saul (b. 1934), roy de forest (1930-2007), and joan brown (1938-1990). in california, robert colescott (1925-2009) independently used satirical cartoon-like renderings to tackle social and political issues and explore his own identity.

notably, philip guston (1913-1980) shifted to figuration in the late 1960s, facing criticism for his “hood” paintings in 1970 that addressed political and personal subjects, including the persistent threats of the ku klux klan. guston’s formal risks and the gravity of his subject matter were initially overlooked and criticized but are now deemed some of the most powerful critiques of american society.

who’s afraid of cartoony figuration? acknowledges this rich history by examining the work of contemporary artists who have taken up this mantle and explores the ambiguous, subversive content from its “comix” packaging. unwrapping the complexities that lie beneath the irreverent, populist aesthetics of cartoony figuration, the exhibitions presents works by artists coming from different generations, geographies, and practices that have honed their cartoony figuration to address critical subjects of the present day.

Dallas Contemporary
161 Glass Street
Dallas, Texas 75207
dallascontemporary.org