Charlie James Gallery opened “Black and Blue,” on June 12, a solo show of work by New York-based artist Lee Quiñones.
The exhibition takes its name from the show’s centerpiece painting that focuses on the horrific murder of George Floyd on May 25th, 2020. The show reminds visitors of the continual silencing of Black and Brown voices across generations and geography.
Lee Quiñones,”No Strings Attached,” 2021, pastel lead pencil, spray paint and dye sublimation print on aluminum panel, 61 x 48 inches, photo by ofstudio, courtesy to the artist and Charlie James Gallery.
Black and Blue makes clear reference to technology, specifically the gravitational pull of social media that we all have continuously used to shape or form our everyday lives. Aside from its semi-hidden central figures, it contains an array of 569 individually painted iPhone screens, one for each second of the 9 minute 29 second video that marked the murder of Floyd.
The painting sets the tone for the rest of the show which features paintings and drawings dealing with historical social justice fault lines, from the desegregation of Little Rock Central High in Arkansas to the ongoing displacement of Native Americans.
Lee Quiñones, “Nine Lives,” 2021, diptych, acrylic, pastel lead pencil, spray paint, paint marker and printed matter on canvas, 37 x 54 inches, photo by ofstudio, courtesy to the artist and Charlie James Gallery.
Lee Quiñones, “Spit (Bomb series),” 2021, acrylic, spray paint and ink marker on panel, 36 x 24 inches, photo by ofstudio, courtesy to the artist and Charlie James Gallery.
Supporting the political stance of the exhibition, Lee presents a suite of “bombed” canvas paintings that acknowledge the artist’s graffiti roots. They are expressive pieces that have been executed in his New York studio.
The show also contains a large-scale collaborative work between Lee Quiñones and NY and Miami-based artist William Cordova, Physical Graffiti referencing the cover image of the iconic Led Zeppelin album from 1975. The vintage and contemporary drawings selected by Quiñones for “Black and Blue” amplify the themes of struggle, justice, and resilience.
Lee Quiñones, “Born to Bomb, (Bomb series. 4 panels),” 2021, acrylic, Spray paint on canvas, 36 x 24 inches/each, photo by ofstudio, courtesy to the artist and Charlie James Gallery.
Lee Quiñones, “Red Dawn,” 2021, acrylic, spray paint, pastel lead pencil on canvas, 68 x 59 inches, photo by ofstudio, courtesy to the artist and Charlie James Gallery.
Lee Quiñones and William Cordova, “Physical Graffiti,” 2019, screen print, oil stick and spray paint on Somerset paper, 53 x 97.5 inches, photo by ofstudio, courtesy to the artist and Charlie James Gallery.
