A R T U R O C O R R E A

Liminal Labyrinths unveils new work by Arturo Correa, a Venezuelan-American painter who interweaves abstract and cross-cultural imagery to invoke psychological transformations. Born in Valencia in 1967, he grew up inspired by the open-ended debates of his parents, a surgeon and a psychologist, on health and human behavior. After moving to the United States at 21 to study art, he earned an MA in Studio Art from NYU. Devastated by 9/11, which catalyzed a profound shift in his work, he left the city behind and eventually settled in Naples, Florida.

 

Evolving constantly, his approach sprang first from his roots in Venezuelan and pre-Columbian culture, and later absorbed the influence of post-modernists like Basquiat and David Salle. His current work is a progression of an earlier series, Enredaderas – expressionistic canvases crowded with twisted vines – reimagined as clean, colorful shapes reminiscent of subway maps or mazes. In some of these large acrylic canvases, his energetic gestures stand unadorned, suggesting orchestral movements building upon each other. In others, cartoon characters pursue mysterious missions in this labyrinthine environment, while ghostly doodles float in the background like half-formed ideas waiting to express themselves. The references to childhood lend wit and playfulness to the abstract forms, but also a certain nostalgia.

 

Correa believes art has the power to heal the spirit, suggesting that “every day we are on a mission to find ourselves.” He has held 22 solo exhibitions in Venezuela and the US, and his work is in the permanent collections of numerous museums and institutions.

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Ascaso Gallery

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