Raúl de Nieves

February 13 – April 18, 2015

curriculum vitae

EXHIBITION IMAGES

Days(Ves) of Wonder

2007 - 2014
23(l) x 17(w) x 39 1/2(h)
Mixed Media

The Fool on the Hill

2013 - 2014
112(l) x 30(w)
5 pieces
Watercolor on Paper

Mixed Nuts

2013
256(l) x 105 1⁄2(w)
33 piece mural
Collage on Paper, Tempera Paint, Pen Ink

Celebration

2010 - 2015
98(l) x 39 1⁄2(w) x 19 1⁄2(h)
Mixed Media, Sculpture

Party Room

2014
Installation
Tape, Confetti, Plastic Bag, Yarn, 3 Robotic dolls

Porcelina

2015
32 (l) x 17 (w) x 10 (h)
17 (l) x 12 (w) x 20 (h)
Mixed Media

Pena and Joe: The Art of Comfort

2013
9(l) x 7(w) x 16(h)
19 1⁄2(l) x 7 1⁄2(w) x 13 1⁄2(h)
Mixed Media

VeRD Inn

2013
12 (l) x 9 (w) x 13 1⁄2 (h) (left foot)
10 1⁄2 (l) x 9 (w) x 13 1⁄2 (h) (right foot)
14 1⁄2(l) x 9 (w) x 6 (h)
Mixed Media

Detail of As Far As You Take Me That's Where I B Live

2013 - 2014
25 1⁄2(l) x 18 (w) x 22(h) (bottom)
24(l) x 22(w) x 17(h) (circular (top))
Mixed Media

works exhibited

Press Release

I'm in A Story • An Exhibition by Raúl de Nieves • February 13th – April 18th, 2015

MUSEUM as RETAIL SPACE (MaRS) is pleased to present I’m in A Story, the gallery’s inaugural exhibition and Raúl de Nieves first solo show in Los Angeles. His work spans intricate figurative sculpture and painting, ornamental shoes and garments, multimedia performance and live music, with frequent references to high fashion, nightlife, Catholic symbolism, Mexican folklore, and fairy tales.

I’m in A Story continues the narrative of de Nieves and Colin Self's critically acclaimed chamber opera The Fool, a mystical allegorical journey centered around a mother, a child, an old women, and a dog/fool (played by de Nieves). The exhibition brings to life the precious relationship between the dog/fool character and the old woman character:

Old woman, you have lived a very beautiful life and Its time to let go of fear. Fear
only brings you farther from the self. With the loss of fear one can be a
wandering spirit, and soon will choose where the spirit is to go. Your old body
and brain are not eternal, but your soul is.
Old woman why are you shaking why do you shake when you close your eyes
you’re not awake
fear not your body leaving you, for it is not your soul
my spirit wanders body to body, we’re on a journey
you must continue on
Do not be afraid, by giving me a chance to help you will have me by your side at
all time

The body I have is light as a feather
you have given me a chance to continue with greater knowledge
to always be thinking with generosity, ethics, patience, diligence and most of all
renunciation.
The message you have brought to me only makes me wiser.

Selected Works from oeuvre

43_LOYAL-The Reveal, Sascha Brauning, Raul de Nieves, Francine Spiegel 01.jpg

4_LOYAL-Raul De Nieves, Yellow Shoes, right on.jpg

Biography

RAÚL DE NIEVES (b. 1983, Morelia Michuacan, Mexico) lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. His work spans intricate figurative sculpture and painting, ornamental shoes and garments, multimedia performance and live music, with frequent references to high fashion, nightlife, Catholic symbolism, Mexican folklore, and fairy tales.

De Nieves’ performance has been featured at The Whitney Museum, MoMA PS1, MoMA San Francisco, Performa, as well as prominently in the works of Ryan Trecartin. His intricate sculptural shoes are often worn in de Nieves’ decadent performances and have recently been photographed by Mario Sorrenti and Karl Lagerfeld, worn by Lady Gaga, and earned notable press editorials in publications including V Magazine, W Magazine, and Harper’s Bazaar. De Nieves has mounted solo exhibitions at Live with Animals (2010); Newman Popiashvili Gallery, New York (2009 and 2007); Galerie Giti Nourbakhsch, Berlin (2008) among others. His recently premiered collaborative chamber opera, The Fool, will perform at The Kitchen (NYC) later this year (2015).