StudioWorld

WHAT IS STUDIO 

WORLD? 

Quick Q + A with painter KIKI VALDES about his new pop up experiment 'STUDIO WORLD' - Opens on Saturday June 30th 2012 

What is Studio World?

Originally I wanted to curate a group show with glimpses of artist’s personal studios. That was a concept I have been thinking of for a while. The studio, that’s where things are made, and a place art and ideas are shared outside of the gallery. But due to time restraints I thought it would be interesting for people to see a variety of my work completed and not finished also. It’s more about showing my thought process. Sometimes in a standard exhibition it’s very hard to show that at times I think. I consider this a studio visit but instead of inviting a few collectors, it’s about inviting more people in.

So, is this a show or a studio visit?

A little bit of both. It’s an entire 4^th floor of a building. I will use 2 adjoining rooms where the work will be shown. We are going to hang the work like I do in my studio. I always have a mixture of old and new paintings and just random drawings. There won’t be a very cohesive display of works. It’s restricting and we don’t want to make it too curatorial. It’s all about having fun for this and with the hope of raising funds.

Aid for Aids International is working with you on this?

I lost my cousin Nelson in 1992. He was an extremely celebrated Doctor in Miami in the late 1980’s. I got involved with AID FOR AIDS to help in any possible way the group can use me for. It’s really to honor the life of Nelson and everyone affected somehow by the disease. Jesus Aguais (Executive Director of AID FOR AIDS) is an extremely compassionate human being and I’m honored that he believed in my idea. 25% of each work sold benefits AID FOR AIDS. I will have a ton of drawings just pinned to the wall. Anyone that attends can afford a drawing. You can learn more about the organization at AID FOR AIDS

What kind of work can visitors expect to see?

This wasn’t a pop up show I was prepping for. Some of the work might seem very familiar to close friends and some of it will seem new or unresolved. I have abstract canvas with overlapping layers of raw canvas and other mixed media works. I am also showing these black and white canvas portraits of cartoon imagery. Cartoons and comic strips have been a point of reference as of late. I have no idea how showing these 2 or 3 phases of my work will look together. I think there will be a little of something for everyone. 

By: M.A. Macias 

KIKI VALDES: STUDIO WORLD 
SATURDAY – JUNE 30th 2012 

6pm - 10:30pm
80th West End Ave (and 63rd St) 
at Lincoln Center West - 4th Floor, New York, NY
[email protected] - 786.315.8369
(After reception space is open only by appointment only)

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