Artist Statement
My work explores issues around race and family- not in the narrow sense, but in a broader sense that is ultimately about society’s role (or even responsibility) to advance human dignity. My art frequently attempts to identify parallels within cultures and question the division’s people have. I’m interested in creating art that not only functions within the context of the white box but involves society or functions in a public context- I believe this to be essential to an artist working with social issues.
Perhaps my biggest contention lies in the rationale that identity is fixed- that somehow we can fall into a category that is not susceptible to change as we encounter various cultures. That being said, I have allowed my art to become a vehicle for the documentation of a different model- a model that includes the hybrid and the initial point of conversation. I’m also interested in mining cultural signifiers that produce familiar narrative spaces as apposed to being characterized by a particular formal style.
(b. 1977, Los Angeles, California. Lives in Altadena, California)
EDUCATION
MFA, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, California, 2009
Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, Maine, 2008
BFA, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA, 2007
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2013
A Hero Ain’t Nothin’ but a Sandwich, Charlie James Gallery, Los Angeles, CA (Forthcoming)
2010
Until the Day Breaks and Shadows Flee, Project Row Houses, Houston, TX
Black is Brown and Brown is Beautiful, Charlie James Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2009
Friction of Distance, Steve Turner Contemporary, Los Angeles, CA
On Beyond Rhyme!, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
2008
The Pursuit of Happiness, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
2007
Fallen Nature and the Two Cities, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
1998
Ode to Consciousness, Pasadena City College/ Library, Pasadena, CA
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2013
Common Ground II, California African American Museum at Mercado La Paloma, Los Angeles, CA
2012
Blake Collects: Challenging Assumptions, The Blake School- Martha Bennett Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
Go Tell it on the Mountain, California African American Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Venice Beach Biennial (VBB), directed by Hammer curator Ali Subotnick, Venice, CA
Made in L.A., organized by the Hammer Museum and LA><art, los=”” angeles,=”” ca<br=””> Artists’ Tower of Protest by Mark di Suvero, Los Angeles, CA
Go Tell it on the Mountain, Charlie James Galley, Los Angeles, CA
2011
IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas, California African American Museum (CAAM), Los Angeles, CA
If These Wall Could Talk—A Conversation, Charlie James Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
If These Wall Could Talk—A Conversation, Marine Art Salon, Santa Monica, CA
Bienal Fronteriza de Arte 2010, Centro Cultural Paso del Norte, Chihuahua, Mexico
2010
Border Art Biennial 2010, El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso, TX
The Seventh House (Round 33), Project Row Houses, Houston, TX
The Road to Hell is Paved…, Las Cienegas Projects, Los Angeles, CA
El Grito, The University of Arkansas/Little Rock Art Gallery, Little Rock, AR
52nd Atelier (2010 Print Fair Exhibition), Self Help Graphics and Art, Los Angeles, CA
2009
OZ: New Offerings From Angel City, Museo Regional Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico
Why Video, REDCAT, Los Angeles, CA
Why Theory – Curated by Rita Gonzales and Anat Egbi, Spring Arts Tower, Los Angeles, CA
New Insight – Curated by Susanne Ghez, Art Chicago, Chicago, IL
2008
Torrance Juried Art Exhibition – Juried by Gosia Wojas, Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA
V Bienal Internacional de Estandartes, Centro Cultural Tijuana (CECUT), Tijuana, Mexico
Changing Ties, Avenue 50 Studio, Los Angeles, CA
War Room, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
Common Ground, California African American Museum (CAAM), Los Angeles, CA
2007
May Not Be Suitable for All Audiences, Upstairs At The Market Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Commerce: Systems of Exchange, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
About Face, 1522 Gallery, Venice, CA
2006
Holy Nuptials, Avenue 50 Studio, Los Angeles, CA
Un Guatemala Por Conocer, Latino Art Museum (LAM), Pomona, CA
Chicano: Pronouncing Diversity, Eagle Rock Center for the Arts, Los Angeles, CA
Conversations North of Mexico, Mexican Cultural Institute, Los Angeles, CA
Not Always Red, Latino Art Museum (LAM), Pomona, CA
A Closer Look, Blue Chips Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2005
Heads or Tails – Curated by John Millei, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
Emerging from Aztlan, The DA Center for the Arts, Pomona, CA
Homenajes/ Homage’s, Avenue 50 Studio, Los Angeles, CA
Perspectives in Mictlan, Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN
Reflections of Who We Are, Arte Diseño, Monrovia, CA
2003
Al Cielo, Rock Rose Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
No Struggle No Progress, Rock Rose Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2001
Nahual: Journey in Search of Our Indigenous Self, De Colores Gallery, Pasadena, CA
1999
La Causa, Self Help Graphics and Art, Los Angeles, CA
1998
El Big Two-Five, Self Help Graphics and Art, Los Angeles, CA
Art at the Aztec, Aztec Hotel, Monrovia, CA
1997
Viva La Vida, Self Help Graphics and Art, Los Angeles, CA
Made in L.A, Latino Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Drama from the Heart, Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA
1996
Flores de Esperansa, Self Help Graphics and Art, Los Angeles, CA
Love for Frida, El Pueble Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
CURATORIAL PROJECTS
2012
Go Tell It on the Mountain, Lynn Aldrich, Edgar Arceneaux, Daphne Arthur, Andrea Bowers, Tracy Brown, Carolyn Castaño, Robert Colescott, Sam Doyle, Todd Gray, Mark Steven Greenfield, Zeal Harris, Caroline Kent, John K. Lawson, Diego Laclery, Nery Gabriel Lemus, Kerry James Marshall, Rosalyn Myles, John Outterbridge, Nikki Pressley, Sulton Rogers, Erika Rothenberg, Sanjit Sethi, Herbert Singleton, Nate Young- California African American Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Go Tell It on the Mountain, Rev. Ethan Acres, Edgar Arceneaux, Andrea Bowers, Carolyn Castaño, Alex Donis, Nery Gabriel Lemus, Nikki Pressley, Erika Rothenberg, Sanjit Sethi- Charlie James Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2010
The Seventh House (Round 33), Edgar Arceneaux, Andrea Bowers, Charles Gaines, Olga
Koumoundouros, Nery Gabriel Lemus, Rodney McMillian- Project Row Houses,
Houston, TX
2008
Changing Ties, Margarita Cabrera, Harry Gamboa Jr., Nery Gabriel Lemus, Akosua
Adoma Owusu, Nikki Presley, Rubén Ortiz-Torres, Nate Young- Avenue 50 Studio,
Los Angeles, CA
2003
No Struggle No Progress, Leo Eguiarte, Jose-Luis Gutierrez, Nery Gabriel Lemus, Marco Martinez, Cesar Medina, Midztoro, Ricardo Miranda, Monica Robles, John Torres- Rock Rose Art Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
COMISSIONS AND LOANS
2007
CBS Broadcasting Inc., Cane, Loan of work for set, Los Angeles, CA
1998
Plaza de la Raza, Tropical America, Set design, Los Angeles, CA
1997
Ballet Folklorico del Pacifico, Set design, Luckman Fine Arts Complex, Los Angeles, CA
ARTIST LECTURES
2010
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), LA Print: Edition 1, Lecture on printmaking representing Self Help Graphics and Art, Los Angeles, CA
The Blanton Museum of Art, Lectures on Art in the Black Diaspora: Artist panel with Edgar Arceneaux, Olga Koumoundouros and Nery Gabriel Lemus, Austin, TX
Rice University, Visiting Artist Lecturer, Houston, TX
2009
Art Chicago, Doctor Artist, Panel discussion on the role of a Ph.D. in Studio Art, including New Insight Artists and moderated by James Elkins, Chicago, IL
2008
Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA), Exploring Identity Trough Printmaking, Evenings for Educators, Los Angeles, CA
California African American Museum (CAAM), Cross Cultural Partnerships, Panel discussion with “Common Ground” Artists, Edgar Arceneaux, Cindy Santos Bravo, Jane Castillo, John Outterbridge, and CAAM director Shermaine Jefferson, Los Angeles, CA
1998
Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall, The Power of Art in Youth, Los Angeles, CA
1997
EZLN ( Zapatista Army of National Liberation) Resistance Camp, Encuentro Cultural, Presentation about public art delivered to EZLN, Chiapas, Mexico
SCREENINGS
2009
Proclamation of the Lined-up Fade, 2007, REDCAT, Los Angeles, CA
A Study of Gratification and Restraint No.2, 2008, REDCAT, Los Angeles, CA
2008
Supposed to Be, 2008, Projections on Lake- Curated by David Bradshaw, Pasadena, CA
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2012
Griffin, Jonathan. “Made in L.A. 2012”, Frieze, Issue 149, September 2012
Buckley, Annie. “ Made in L.A.”, Art in America, September 2012, pg.151
Ellegood, Anne, Fistenberg, Lauri, Gaines, Malik, Garcia, Cesar, Subotnick, Ali, with text by
Amanda Hunt, “Made in L.A. 2012, Exhibition Catalogue, Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA, June
Fitzpatrick, Kyle, “Made in L.A.: Nery Gabriel Lemus 30/60”, Los Angeles I’m Yours, May 1
Boucher, Brian, “Hammer Biennial Artists and Mohn Prize Announced”, Art in America, March 14
Aguilar, Carlyn. “Go Tell It on the Mountain”, Notes on Looking, February 16
Wagley, Catherine. “Burnt Church and Other Sacrilege”, DailyServing, January 20
2011
Moret, A., “If These Wall Could Talk- A Conversation”, Whitehot Magazine, April
Interview, GYST Radio, June 12, 2011, www.blogradio.com/2011/06/13/interview-with-artist-nery-gabriel-lemus
Fell, David A. “ Round 33: The Seventh House”, Art Lies, Spring/ Summer, Issue #68
Lark, Laura. “Round 33: The Seventh House at Project Row Houses”, Glasstire, January
Lemu, Massa. “ Round 33: The Seventh House”, …might be good, February 4, Issue #162
2010
“Border Art Biennial 2010”, Exhibition Catalogue, El Paso Museum of Art and Museo de Arte de Ciudad Juárez
Tran, Biddy. “The Road to Hell Is Paved…”, Exhibition Catalogue, Las Cienegas Projects
Interview, LAarstreem, September 2, 2010, www.laartstream.com/creative-current/nery-gabriel-lemus/
Pullon, Doug, “Violence Stays on the Artists’ Minds in Cross-border Exhibit”. El Paso Times 21 Nobember 2010: 3F
Winder, Ellis. “Exhibits sample Hispanic Art”. Arkansas Democrat-Gazette [Little Rock]
24 August 2010.
Peacock, Leslie Newell. “The Artists’ Gritos”. Arkansas Times [Little Rock] 2 August 2010.
2009
Davalos, Ignacio. “El Museo Regional ya es la Tierra de Oz”. Milenio [Guadalajara] 25 November 2009: pg.43
Tres Visiones Multiculturales de Los Angeles, El Informador [Guadalajara] 25 November 2009: 10B
Alvarado, Alejandro. “Traen Arte Actual de L.A.” Mural [Guadalajara] 25 November 2009: Cultura
Ebgi, Anat, and Gonzales, Rita. “Why Theory”, (catalogue)
2008
Palau, Marta. “ES2008 Tijuana V Bienal Internacional de Estandartes”, Centro Cultural
Tijuana (CECUT), Exhibition Catalogue, Tijuana, Mexico
Gurza, Agustin. “A Deeper Brown”. Los Angeles Times 2 February 2008: E1, E-16.
1996
Linares, Jesse J. “Exponen Raíces Culturales Mexicanas de Los Angeles”. La Opinion November 1996: 1C-2C
COLLECTIONS
California African American Museum, Los Angeles, CA
AWARDS
COLA Individual Artist Fellowship, 2012-2013
Mignone Fellowship, 2008
Charitable Lead Trust CalArts Scholarship, 2008
The Ahmanson Foundation Scholarship, 2007