Israel Guevara
Inspired by Color & Geometry
Contemporary movie directors— like Woody Allen, Noah Baumbach , and James Mangold—have demonstrated that given the appropriate story lines and locales, black and white films, such as Manhattan, Frances Ha, and Logan,hold a special charm. Eliminating color compels viewers to concentrate on the atmosphere of each shot, the plot, and the nuances of expression by the actors.
Similarly, photographers like Ansel Adams, Arnold Newman, and Robert Frank shot in black and white to focus attention to their compositions through line, texture and gradations of the gray scale.
But color adds excitement to our visual experience, spicing up the scenery and evoking atavistic emotional responses. The color outbursts—one is tempted to say, explosions—of Israel Guevara, a master colorist, generate a sense of controlled energy, of movement from stasis, that we find stimulating and energizing—probably why geometric abstraction persists in popularity through so many artistic movements and regions.
Color + Geometry
November 3, 2017 – March 31, 2018
Sculpture & Painting
Acrylic on Canvas and/or Acrylic on Wood
‘COLOR + GEOMETRY’ TO OPEN NOV. 3RD AT ARTSPACE/ VIRGINIA MILLER GALLERIES
“Color + Geometry,” an exhibition of paintings, assemblage and sculpture by Israel Guevara, will open at ArtSpace/Virginia Miller Galleries with a reception for the Venezuelan-American artist from 6-10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3rd.
Born in Maracay, Venezuela in 1961, Guevara earned a degree in architecture in the Dominican Republic and a master’s degree in tourism design in Venezuela. As an architect he worked on projects at both the Williams Island and Porto Vita communities in Aventura as well as the Arsht Center in downtown Miami and the Dolphin Mall in Sweetwater before devoting himself fulltime to art.
“Guevara’s work is a contemporary take on the long tradition of Latin American geometric abstraction and op art,” said gallery owner and director Virginia Miller. “He is a master colorist, and his visually arresting, innovative compositions evolve from his years of experience as an architect and as an artist.”
Art writer Ana Cristina Gamundi also notes Guevara’s op-art qualities: “His sophisticated yet playful presentation allows viewers to experience a constant interaction with his creations, an interaction that results in ever-changing colors, shapes, dimensions and even images.”
The artist has exhibited in the Museum of Geometric and MADI Art in Dallas, Boca Raton Museum, University of Connecticut, Frost Art Museum, Lowe Art Museum, the Jewish Museum of Florida—FIU, and Miami Childrens’ Museum. His work is included in such prestigious collections as those of the Museum of Geometric and MADI Art, Cititower at Eola Park, Orlando, the Boca Raton Polo Club, and in corporate and private collections in Dallas, Aventura, Coral Gables and Orlando.
According to Guevara, “My work is an investigation of color, simple form and the development of the integration of light and space. To encourage the viewer to interact with my creations I recreate my personal, social and environmental experiences into a variety of mediums.”
“In my work the object is not relevant and precedent is given to the spatial rhythms and visual movement that are generated by placing overlapping lines, geometry and colors, to produce abstract, hard-edge compositions.”
“Color + Geometry” will be on display through March 2018, Miller said.
Greater Miami’s longest-established contemporary fine art gallery, ArtSpace/Virginia Miller Galleries is located in the heart of the Coral Gables business and restaurant district at 169 Madeira Avenue. Gallery hours are 12:00 to 6:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and by appointment.
Israel Guevara
Venezuelan-born Miami artist Israel Guevara is predominantly known for his unique investigation of color through the use of bright colors and defined and overlapping lines, which speaks volumes of his versatility. His sophisticated yet playful presentation allows viewers to experience a constant interaction with his creations, an interaction that results in ever-changing colors, shapes, dimensions and even images.After a career in architecture, the self-taught visual artist became a full-time painter whose works, though mostly on canvas, range a variety of mediums. With an attractive and exciting résumé of diverse works, Israel has been invited to exhibit his talent at such prestigious locales as the Boca Raton Museum of Art, the Frost Art Museum and the Ninoska Huerta Gallery/ Biscayne Art House and the Geometric and MADI Museum in Dallas, Texas. Additionally, his work has been reviewed in various publications such as The Miami Herald and Florida Design’s: Miami Home & Decór, as well as by the Haute Design Network.