Press Release

NEW ORLEANS---Heriard-Cimino Gallery presents New Work by José Bedia. The exhibition officially opens Saturday, March 3, 2012 from 6 to 8 p.m. The public is invited. The exhibition will be on view March 3, 2012 through April 28, 2012. Gallery hours are Tuesday - Saturday 10 to 5, or by appointment.

About the Artist: Born in Cuba, José Bedia began his transcultural explorations in his twenties. In 1981, he participated in a ground-breaking exhibition, Volumen uno, in Havana, where he and a group of collegial friends and artists presented conceptual and installation art. These artists became part of the avant-garde in Havana, and by the late 80’s Bedia’s work was recognized world-wide. It is during this time that José Bedia developed a distinctive and discerning visual vocabulary that became uniquely his own. Throughout his career, Bedia’s investigations are in living tradition of indigenous peoples of the Americas, Africa and beyond- cultures that have not only retained their tradition, but continue to build upon them.

As discussed by Orlando Hernandez, “academic study of the infamation the artist is using- along with an intellectual understanding of his motives and an unraveling of the symbols - is not enough. We have to go much further and much deeper. Bedia’s art seems to ask its public for an attitude of holiness, a brotherhood, a commitment which would make it impossible to betray or to forget this universe which he, with such devotion, such respect, has made his own so that he may then communicate it, spread it outward and make it ever greater.”

In The Exhibition: Bedia paints symbolic figures, metaphorical images and narratives, each possessing numerous layers of meaning, resulting in a universal connection and communication between Bedia and his audience. Throughout all of Bedia’s work, he explores the socio-political considerations and consequences of our societies. Bedia’s work remains provocative and always profoundly beautiful.

José Bedia has exhibited his work throughout the world in renowned museums. His work is included in significant international private and public collections, in the Museum of Modern Art in New York, The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, the Tate Gallery, London, The Hirschorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, Washington, D.C., Centro Cultural de Arte Contemporaneo, Mexico City, Miami Art Museum, Miami, Fl, Museo de Bellas Artes, Caracas, Venezuela and Los Angeles County Museum of Art among many others. The artist works and resides in Miami, Florida. This is José Bedia’s second exhibition at Heriard-Cimino Gallery.