Pelayo vs Pelayo

About

There are few examples in the history of art where a father and son achieve such remarkable success that they warrant a joint exhibition. Gallery 36's show of Isaac and Antonio Pelayo is one such rare instance that showcases the evolution of their unique styles over the past decade. This exhibition highlights the distinct yet intertwined creative paths of the Pelayos, bound by a shared legacy and an ongoing, vibrant dialogue that runs through their works.

Isaac’s work is a dynamic fusion where the revered tropes of Renaissance iconography meet the raw, visceral energy of modern street art, deeply one infused with a distinctly West Coast sensibility. His canvases feature a jujitsu of sorts between spray paint and the bold oil pastel strokes with references to the diverse toolbox of post-WW II Pop and Conceptual Art. Isaac's stylistic idiom hints at John Baldessari’s canvases with erased faces and Warhol’s beatification of the readymade, but he infuses these approaches with the grit and vibrancy of Los Angeles Street culture. The result is a visual dialogue that captures the tension between high and low, the sacred and the profane, all while asserting a uniquely Californian voice.  

Antonio Pelayo’s recent collection offers a profound exploration of cultural identity, deftly navigating the interplay between tradition and modernity. Meticulously crafted in a hybrid of pencil and acrylic ink, each piece testifies to Antonio’s ability to merge the familiar with the surreal, inviting viewers into a world where the boundaries between past and present blur, allowing cultural symbols to take on new, poignant meanings. His portrait series features graphite faces emerging from playful, abstracted bodies, creating a layered narrative of identity. The juxtaposition of realistic portraiture with stylized, almost cartoonish figures reflects the duality that many experience—rooted in tradition yet continually shaped by contemporary influences. Antonio’s use of vivid primary colors and symbolic imagery weaves a visual language that echoes the complexities of cultural memory and the immigrant experience, offering a compelling commentary on belonging and identity in a rapidly evolving world.