Artwork
#embroidery
#Erick Medel
#immigration
#Los Angeles
#textiles
“Frutas Frescas (Pride parade 2023)” (2024), polyester thread on denim, 24 x 20 inches. Pictures by Yubo Dong. All pictures © Erick Medel, courtesy of the artist and Charlie James Gallery, Los Angeles, shared with permission
Utilizing a stitching machine and thread, Los Angeles-based artist Erick Medel highlights the vitality of his dwelling metropolis. Influenced by the day by day goings-on in his native Boyle Heights neighborhood, the artist focuses particularly on the immigrant group, capturing folks at work, on walks, at festivals, or working errands.
Gleaming daylight and vivid colours usually characterize Medel’s compositions, reflecting the regional local weather and barely staticky imagery as if recalled from reminiscence. He usually depicts folks amid their common routines, like commuting to high school, portray homes, or promoting recent fruit, illuminating the advanced and vibrant collective story of immigrant histories, labor, and tradition within the metropolis.
At Charlie James Gallery, Medel’s present solo exhibition Vidas—Spanish for “lives”—celebrates the colourful interactions of his group and neighbors whereas additionally glimpsing his personal experiences as he traverses the world, enjoys native meals, and greets passersby. The artist’s alternative of canvas—a deep blue, heavyweight denim—evokes handbook labor and easy type, nodding to the outstanding enterprise of transferring to a brand new nation and the fabled laid-back life-style of California.
Vidas continues via August 31 in Los Angeles. Discover extra on the artist’s web site and Instagram.
“Pintor” (2024), polyester thread on denim, 35 x 46 inches
“Walk around the block” (2024), polyester thread on denim, 14 x 11 inches
“Smiley (La Favorita Bakery)” (2024), polyester thread on denim, 11 x 14 inches
“Sonidero Night” (2024), polyester thread on denim, 48 x 54 inches
“Mis Vecinos (stray cats)” (2024), polyester thread on denim, 11 x 14 inches
“Arreglo Floral (muchas rosas)” (2024), polyester thread on denim, 20 x 16 inches
“Hold my hand” (2024), polyester thread on denim, 20 x 16 inches
“Young Familia” (2024), polyester thread on denim, 20 x 16 inches
#embroidery
#Erick Medel
#immigration
#Los Angeles
#textiles
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