About
Sarah Wiseman Gallery and West Two Gallery are delighted to be collaborating to bring you a unique opportunity to view some amazing work from two artists; Mariano Molina from Argentina and Claudio Castelo from Brazil, two countries well known for their contemporary arts scenes, and which enjoy a rich cultural heritage.
One of our aims is to seek out the best talent from the UK and beyond and now in an adventurous project, Sarah Wiseman Gallery is working with London's West Two Gallery to bring you two highly accomplished and established artists from Latin America.
Claudio Castelo began his career in the 1980s, his paintings appearing in collections and publications in Brazil and around the world. His large-scale works on canvas depict theatrical characters in flamboyant costume, caught in a narrative. Castelo takes his inspiration from literature, particular works from Proust, Tolstoy, Henry James, and Flaubert; as well as Greek tragedies, opera and theatre. His paintings are a visual transformation of his readings, his experiences and his travels.
Mariano Molina, from Buenos Aires in Argentina has been exhibiting his work in Latin America, New York and Miami since 2005. His work often features crowds of people, blurred together or figures standing apart from one another, or in sequence, as in âAction Painting' throwing paint or objects out towards the viewer. More recently, Molina has staged urban interventions with his large-scale works as part of the street art movement in Latin America and Miami. His work is informed by political events taking place in his home city, although he does not intend his paintings to be politicised but motivated only by a desire to isolate these figures and capture âcertain vibrations and optical stimuli' he observes in large gatherings of people.
Each artist will present a collection of four paintings each, which will be on show at Sarah Wiseman Gallery, South Parade, Oxford in collaboration with West Two Gallery throughout May.
West Two Gallery was established by Byrna West, a gallerist and curator originally from the U.S who is now resident in London. Byrna represents emerging and established talents from North and South America, affording us the opportunity to see work we may not normally get the chance to see - and building cultural connections.
Sarah Wiseman opened her gallery in 1998, in Summertown, the thriving cosmopolitan area of north Oxford. The gallery quickly established itself as the leading space for contemporary art in Oxford and has been driven forward by Sarah's commitment, energy and keen eye. Sarah says âOur ethos remains consistent; to discover new talent, represent established artists and give people in Oxford a view of the amazing contemporary artists working in the UK and beyond today.'
