Henry Bermudez
"Pen . Ink . Paper"
October 1 - 30, 2010

In his third solo exhibition with the gallery, Mr. Bermudez will present a new group of drawings. Henry Bermudez, a maestro of the serpentine line and Philadelphia’s guide to the mysterious world of pre-Columbian gods and their jungle habitat, returns to his roots.  Prior to representing Venezuela in the 1986 Venice Biennale, Bermudez had forged a reputation as a unique draftsman with a highly individual style and point of view, accomplished enough to show alongside Picasso.  He presents in this new grouping works created with the simplest of tools - pen, ink and paper.  These renderings of a sublime graphic universe are at times both dense and open and frequently abstract.  One occasionally glimpses a jaguar, a flower or a grouping of birds; but relentlessly dancing through and across the surface of the paper in a unique black and white motif is a gentle, quiet dialog between the artist and his inner eye. 

The drawings, at first glance, seem quiet; but as one enters them, they become rich beyond equal, twirling and pulsing across the page, creating a landscape of the mind.  Even though not always directly documenting nature or geometry, they constantly allude to some natural reference and frequently surprise us with a dimensional element.  The most intriguing spaces frequently are the areas where no mark touches the paper at all but are merely the white shapes created by the pen’s pause.  This body of work is intense, intimate and commanding and cements Bermudez to the Philadelphia scene as an incomparable master draftsman. 

This internationally exhibited artist is in the collection of numerous museums and private individuals throughout the world, including the National Museum of Catholic Art and History in Washington, D.C. and the museums of contemporary art in Caracas, Maracaibo, Merida and Maracay in Venezuela.  Bermudez has also created numerous murals with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program.

Henry Bermudez
"Con la Mirada en el Cielo"
May 2 - 31, 2008 Projects Gallery & Projects Room

In his second solo show at Projects Gallery, Henry Bermudez presents “Con La Mirada en el Cielo”. Bermudez continues his exploration of spiritually surreal imagery, combining his unique vision of pre-Colombian and Christian iconography. The complex arrangement of interlocking lines and colors are reminiscent of intricate Persian tapestries. The dense arrangement invites us to travel further into a realm of contemplation. Bermudez’s current body of work expands upon the tradition of cut-paper assemblage, in some cases expanding his surface to monumental proportions. The impressive scale confronts the viewer, while the subtle, enigmatic imagery draws one to “gaze to the heaven”.

An internationally exhibited artist, Bermudez’s work is in numerous museum and private collections throughout the world. He was the Venezuelan representative to the 1985 Venice Biennale. A solo exhibition of his work is scheduled at the National Museum of Catholic Art and History in New York City in 2009. “Con La Mirada en el Cielo” opens First Friday, May 2nd with artist receptions from 5-8 p.m. The exhibition continue through May 31st, 2008. The reception is free and open to the public.

Henry Bermudez
"Fragmented Dream"
November 3 - December 22, 2006 Projects Gallery & Projects Room

The Philadelphia Museum of Art has its “tesoros” (treasures) of historic South American art. Projects Gallery has its own with the works of a living Venezuelan artist of great reputation. Fragmented Dream, a solo exhibition by Henry Bermudez, crafts minutely detailed and subtle images of abstract cosmos. Quoting guest curator Cheryl Hron, “This body of work is a hybrid of (pre-Columbian), African, Roman, Celtic and early Christian mythologies. Snakes swallow humans, which dive into centaurs and turn into arabesques in a primordial sea of black and gold…”

A native of Maracaibo, Venezuela, Bermudez won the first of many national prizes at the age of 21. His works are included in several contemporary museum collections throughout Latin America. He was selected as his country’s representative to the world-famous Venice Biennale in 1986. After years of travel between Venezuela, Mexico, Italy, Germany and New York City, the artist has been granted an extraordinary visa by the U.S. State Department and has been living in Philadelphia for several years. In addition to an intense studio experience, Bermudez has been working with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program, where he recently completed two solo murals and is already at work on another.  Including a catalog, Fragmented Dream explores the latest visions in the evolving language of this extraordinary international artist. On view from November 3rd through December 22nd, an artist’s reception will take place on First Friday, November 3, 5 – 9 p.m.