Solo Exhibit: Public Secrets by Abel Alejandre

PUBLIC SECRETS
Solo Exhibit of New Work

ProppingShitUp-Alejandre
“Propping Shit Up” by Abel Alejandre, 48″x24″, Acrylic on wood panel, 2016

Reception: Saturday, April 9 at 7 PM – 11 PM

Exhibition: April 9 and runs thru May 22

Coagula
974 Chung King Rd, Los Angeles, California 90012

Coagula Curatorial is pleased to present “Public Secrets” a solo show of new work by Abel Alejandre. The exhibit opens Saturday, April 9 and runs thru May 22. There is a reception for the artist on April 9 at 7 PM – 11 PM.

This exhibit comes just weeks away from a major public work installation by Alejandre, opening to the public this spring. Twelve permanent artwork panels by the artist are now in place at the Westwood/Rancho Park Metro Station, part of the Expo Line extension opening May 20.

“Public Secrets” is a show of new paintings by Alejandre, who is mostly known for his meticulous graphite drawings.

Events of significance are reframed or colored by the secrets we laugh at, evangelize, believe, or run away from. “Public Secrets” is a new painting series that deals with conspiracies, family secrets, and UFOs. Such secrets can provide comfort as they surround us in an ordinary sort of way. The world is shaped and given a form we can recognize and somehow feel included in on the joke. The air we breathe, the technology we love and love to hate, our illnesses, our leaders and their overseers, untold histories; it is all suspect. Upon closer inspection, we see there is an invisible needle that threads and weaves rich tapestry of truths and untruths.

This is not a proper examination of such a daunting subject. It is less the anatomy of conspiracies and more a poking of the head into a mesmerizing and wonderful rabbit hole. The series is approached with curiosity. Do we not all conspire to hide our role in endeavors others might frown upon?

About the artist: Abel Alejandre emigrated from Apatzingan, Mexico but considers Wilmington, California his hometown. His popular signature style is black on white, labor-intensive crosshatched renderings from graphite that can take dozens of pencils and hundreds of hours to complete. He has exhibited internationally and is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Mexican Art in Chicago. This is his second solo show with Coagula Curatorial in Los Angeles.

Coagula Curatorial is open Wednesday thru Saturday, 1-6pm, and Sundays 1-4pm & by appointment.

•974 Chung King Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90012
•(424) 226-2485
•www.coagulacuratorial.com

PRESS

Los Angeles Times: Datebook: Portraits of pugilists, a key L.A. collagist gets his due, and a piano show about destruction By Carolina A. Miranda

ArtScene: CONTINUING AND RECOMMENDED, MAY 2016

Los Angeles Times: Datebook: An L.A. sculptor’s storied career unearthed, chronicling invisible labor, and a show of GIFs By Carolina A. Miranda

Los Angeles Times: Datebook: Eerie installation inspired by a famous painting, Yoko Ono’s stalker-ish film By Carolina A. Miranda

StudioVisit.LA PROFILING CONTEMPORARY ARTISTS: Abel Alejandre: Graphite Master By Aimee Santos

KrossDAbel Alejandre Knows Your Secrets By Keith Dugas

LA TACO: Preview: ABEL ALEJANDRE “Public Secrets” ~ Opens April 9tH

WELIKELA.com: 47 Awesome Things to do This Weekend in L.A. You Need to Know About [4-8-16 to 4-10-16]

Memetastic: A Little Saturday Night Culture

Riyani’s Blog: Extra Credit II: Coagula Curatorial

One Hundred Percent Rag: ABEL ALEJANDRE- THE RODIN OF PENCIL DRAWINGS
by Sandra Vista