The enchanting blend of magical realism and abstraction that defines Angel Otero’s artistry will be showcased in his inaugural Los Angeles exhibition at Hauser & Wirth, starting May 29. The exhibition, housed at the gallery’s West Hollywood location, introduces a collection of new paintings and sculptures, deeply rooted in Otero’s childhood memories of Puerto Rico.
Otero, renowned for his vibrant and tactile paintings, employs a distinctive method where he paints on plexiglass, then peels off the dried oil paint “skins” and collages them onto canvas with fresh paint. This technique fosters a dynamic interaction with his materials, allowing for elements of chance and unpredictability that resonate through his fragmented and dream-like depictions. These works often draw from the domestic environments of his youth, creating surreal narratives that explore the intersection of memory and present-day realities.
In this exhibition, Otero also revisits sculpture, a discipline he has periodically engaged with alongside his painting. The show features three new sculptural pieces that integrate ceramics and welded metal to reimagine the landscapes of his childhood. These pieces transform familiar objects into something new and strange, playing with memory’s tendency to alter and distort over time.
The public is invited to the opening reception on Wednesday, May 29, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Included in the exhibition is “Neverland,” a notable work that exemplifies Otero’s layered collage technique — combining oil paint with fabric on canvas, measuring 241.3 x 241.3 x 3.8 cm (95 x 95 x 1 1/2 in). The piece is a testament to Otero’s innovative approach to visual storytelling.
Angel Otero was born in 1981 in Santurce, Puerto Rico. He lived there until he moved to Chicago in 2004, where he later earned his MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2009. Otero’s work gained early recognition when he was included in the ‘Constellations’ exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. He now divides his time between New York and Puerto Rico, continuing to explore and expand his artistic practice.
The exhibition not only highlights Otero’s unique contributions to contemporary art but also offers a vivid exploration of the themes of memory, identity, and transformation.
