Fernando Mastrangelo
PG Contemporary presents The Truth Will Set You Free and This Too Shall Pass, two solo exhibits by artists Forrest Prince and Fernando Mastrangelo.
HOUSTON, TX – February 7: Despite their significant age difference, artists Fernando Mastrangelo and Forrest Prince offer two complementary interpretations of religious iconography, social commentary and mythology. Both sculptors challenge mainstream ideas about subjects ranging from social and political ideology, education and the art-making process.
Philomena Gabriel Contemporary opens Prince and Mastrangelo’s solo exhibits, The Truth Will Set You Free and This Too Shall Pass, on February 17 from 6pm to 8 pm, followed by a morning reception on February 18, from 11am to 1pm. The show runs through March 18. Both Mastrangelo and Prince will attend the opening events.
Brooklyn-based Fernando Mastrangelo uses unconventional and controversial materials such as condensed gun powder, cocaine, pressed corn meal and human ashes as part of his established vernacular. The artist uses these substances to create cultural objects that propose direct relationship between the piece and how it should be understood.
Despite his apparent social message, Mastrangelo rejects the idea of sermonizing, preferring to find meaning in the ironic relationship between the materials and his subject. For the exhibit at PG Contemporary, Mastrangelo has created an impressive new work specifically for the space.
Houston-based artist Prince is a self-taught sculptor who explores everything from global politics to America’s fast-food culture in his work, always with references to such Christian iconography as the cross and the words “Praise God.” Prince has an upcoming retrospective at the Station Museum of Contemporary Art (Houston 2012).
Opening Reception: Friday, February 17 from 6pm – 8pm and
Saturday, February 18 from 11am – 1pm
On View: February 17 to March 18, 2012
Where: PG Contemporary, 3227 Milam St., Houston, TX 77006
Born in 1978, Brooklyn-based artist Fernando Mastrangelo has a Master of Fine Arts in sculpture from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA (2004), and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in sculpture from the Cornish College for the Arts in Seattle, WA (2002). In 2001, he attended Pilchuck Glass School in Stanwood, WA.
Mastrangelo exhibits with Charest-Weinberg Gallery in Miami, FL, where he currently has a solo show Black Sculpture and was reviewed by Artforum.com Critics Pick, January 2012
He has participated in numerous group shows in New York, including Waiting for the Barbarians at RARE plus; Malicia at Rare Gallery; Le Desertde Retz at Massimo Audiello Gallery; Intransit at Moti Hasson Gallery; Felix at the Volta Show; Data Panic at Cuchifritos Artspace; Love is a smoke made with the fume of sighs… at Kumukum Gallery; and La Salvamara at Mendes/Mendes Gallery.
His work titled “Malicia” was acquired by the celebrated Cheney Collection in Houston, TX.
Born in Houston in 1935, sculptor Forrest Prince held his first solo exhibit in 1976 at the Contemporary Art Museum in Houston, by renowned curator James Harithas. That same year he participated in a group show at the Houston Museum of Modern Art.
Prince has participated in the HMMA Show at the University of Houston (1982); founded the Praise God Foundation and exhibited in a group show at the Midtown Art Center in Houston, TX (1983); participated in group shows at Diverseworks, Graham Gallery and the Hooks-Epstein Gallery (1987); had a solo show at Diverseworks curated by Caroline Huber (1991); participated in group shows at Lawndale Art and Performance Center in Houston, TX (1994-1995) and the Anti-War Show at The Station Museum of Contemporary Art (2005).
In 2005, Prince was in a group show at the Menil Collection, which acquired his work “The Greatest of All is Love.”
Zoya Tommy, Director of Philomena Gabriel Contemporary, is pleased to present these two exhibits. For more information please contact PG Contemporary at [email protected], www.pgcontemporary.com or (713) 523-7424.
PG Contemporary is located at 3227 Milam St. Gallery hours are Thursday to Saturday 11am to 6pm or by appointment.