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ode to manolo, 2012acrylic, acetate, plastic cord, coffee on canvas, Ø36”

miguel ponsartworks

artstatement

My work is about expressing how complicated and chaotic our lives have become,and how much time and effort we spend trying to achieve balance with our natural

surroundings. I use a mix of organic and synthetic materials as instruments torecreate emotions and movements within each piece.

I insinuate silhouettes of forms, which allow me to create an atmosphere offloating or drifting, in the hope of bringing the viewer to a place of inner peace.

My biggest influences have been Jesus Soto, Carlos Cruz Diez, Alexander Calder,Agnes Martin, Francis Bacon and the one and only Pablo Picasso.

an interview with miguel pons

Miguel Pons works in mixed media, inspired by patterns found in nature. Superimposingmultiple layers of translucent materials, he creates paintings that emulate thecomplexities of the environment.

Last year, I visited Pons’ studio in preparation for “Habitats,” an exhibition of the worksof three artists that I curated at the Grady Alexis Gallery at El Taller Latino Americano,This was the first public showing of Pons’ work. Recently, I talked with him about hiswork and his aspirations as an artist.

AA - Miguel, what led you to become an artist?MP - Primarily the need for self-expression. As a garden designer by trade, I havealways seen myself as an artist who uses elements like texture, layers, and color toproduce harmonious compositions.I find the process of painting very uplifting, as I am driven to communicate my visionthrough paintings that bring to mind the natural world and convey a sense of well-being.

AA - What are some of the things that influence you?MP - Growing up in Caracas I was surrounded by creative people. As a child, I loved theexotic orchids that my grandfather grew, and I was always fascinated by the textures andcolors of the fabrics and threads that my grandmother used for sewing.Right now I am enthralled by the round shape, working with tondos I find that all theelements in the painting come together in a more powerful way. I am also working withthe female figure for the first time.

AA - Would you call yourself a self-taught artist?MP - I identify myself as self-taught, but I am always interested in learning. I have takenportrait classes and I am interested in pursuing it further to master the technique.

AA - Has your practice evolved over time?MP - I always drew, but now I am using mostly mixed media. I enjoy combining avariety of materials—such as acrylic, resin, canvas, paper, thread, fabric and wire—tocreate works that encompass some figurative elements woven into multiple layers.

AA - Did showing your work in public for the first time change your perception as an artist?MP - Seeing my name and my work on a gallery wall for the first time was a very proudmoment. That opportunity to interact with an audience made me realize what a greatresponsibility it is to call myself an artist, and it has encouraged me to keep pursuing my dream.

by andrea arroyo, curator

AA - Do you consider yourself a Latin American artist?MP – For me, creating art is deeply personal experience, and I feel free to release myemotions into my work. I definitely identify with the expressive intensity and richness of

texture and color traditionally associated with Latin American art.

AA - What do you hope your audience will take away from your work?MP - I hope viewers are inspired and transported to a place that reminds them of the

beautiful and positive things in life.

AA - Do you need to be inspired to create?MP - Definitely, and I find inspiration in everything; from the bustle of life in New York

City, to something as simple as the rain, a branch, or a rock.

AA - Do you have any rituals?MP - I require a quiet space, so sometimes I work at night. I like to paint while listening

to classical music, and I also need to put on an apron and drink a cup of coffee before Istart painting.

AA - What’s coming up for you in the future?MP - I will show my most recent body of work in an open studio event, and I plan to get

a website to bring my work to a wider audience.

AA - What is your biggest dream as an artist?MP - To have my work exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art in New York next to

the work of the artists who have inspired me my whole life.

wo

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fairies & butterflies, 2012acrylic, plexiglass, thread tulle, metal wire on wooden board, 24 x 18”

resonance 3, 2011rice paper, coffee, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 36”

resonance 2, 2011rice paper, coffee, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 36”

Resonance 1, 2011, rice paper, coffee, acrylic, metal wire on canvas, 36 x 24”

lavander, 2010acrylic, paper, wire and resin on wooden board, 48 x 36”

going no-where!, 2010acrylic, cord, paper, wire and resin on wooden board

48 x 36”

monday blues, 2011, acrylic, gesso, paper, plexiglass and wire on wooden board, 30 x 24”

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containment, 2011, acrylic, nylon, cord, paper, plexiglass and wires on canvas, 36 x 36”

creation, 2011, acrylic, nylon, cord, paper, plexiglass and wires on canvas, 24 x 36”

flowing bubbles, diptych, 2011, acrylic, mesh, paper, resin thread on wooden board, 18 x 24” each

release, 2012 plastic thread, gesso, resin on canvas, Ø20”

desintegration, 2012 cord, gesso, resin on canvas, Ø20”

white wave, 2012 cord, gesso, resin on canvas, Ø20”

white & red, 2012 plastic cord, gesso, resin on canvas, Ø20”

convoluted, 2012 thread, acetate and resin on canvas, Ø20”

walking on fifth, 2012thread, acetate and resin on canvas, Ø20”

defragmentation in pink, 2012, acrylic, cotton thread paper, plastic cord and resin on canvas, 8 x 48” each

conformity, 2011, acrylic, cotton thread paper, plastic, resin on canvas, 36 x 36”

1- a, gliding in the morning, 2013

2- a, on earth, 2013

3- a, drifting away, 2013

acetate, acrylic,resin and threads on canvas, Ø12” each

a 1 2 3

c 1 2 3 4

1- c, on air, 2013

2- c, landed on earth, 2013

3- c, swimming at night, 2013

4- c, on fire, 2013

acetate, acrylic,resin and threads on canvas, Ø12” each

deforestation, 2013, gesso, gauze, plastic cord on wooden board, 6 x 36” each

biography

I was born October 2,1961 in Caracas, Venezuela into a large family, where artistic expression was a way of life. After raising eight children,

my great-grandmother found solace in painting and passed her love of art down to her children.

My mother, who raised six children, was the Director of the Don Hatch Gallery in Caracas during the 50’s. At This time in Latin culture,

it was unusual for a woman to be working in a professional environment.

My father was a practicing Architect as well as a professor of design and history of architecture in the University Central of Venezuela.

He was an accomplished painter who frequently entertained his artist friends and colleagues at our house, so from a very early age,

I was exposed not only to artists but to many different forms of arts and designs.

After my primary education in Caracas, I moved to Maracay to study at the Universidad Central de Venezuela from 1980 – 1986 where

I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Engineering. After graduating I moved to New York to study English and Business at

New York University. I them went onto study Portraiture at the National Academy of Art.

After working for Jane Gil Gardens for several years I started my own firm in 1996, Miguel Pons Landscaping.

I specialized in boutique garden design and installations focusing in residential projects throughout the New York area.

My gardens have been featured in national and international publications such as Vogue; Elle Decor; The New York Times Magazine;

Hamptons Country; Hamptons Cottages and Gardens; and Venezuelan Newspaper El Universal.

Recently, I participated in a three-person art exhibit “Habitat” curated by Andrea Arroyo at the Grady Alexis Gallery,

El Taller Latin-Americano, New York. I also got invited to the Pixeles Project at the GB Gallery in Caracas.

miguel pons

all rights reserved. no part of this catalogue may be reproduce in any form or by any electronic and mechanical means, includinginformation storage or retrieval systems, in part or in whole, without permission in writing by the publisher, except by a reviewer who may

quote passage in a review.

130 west 3oth street suite 16b

new york, ny 10001

917. 882. 8030

[email protected]

copyright © 2013 images: miguel pons

design: miguel pons & patricia cazorla

palemale flying over the city , 2012, acrylic, paper, plexiglass, cotton thread and wires on canvas, 48 x 48”