Violent By Design - Nehemiah Cisneros

VIOLENT BY DESIGN Nehemiah Cisneros March 12 - May 29, 2021

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center 2012 Baltimore Ave. KC MO 64108 www.leedy-voulkos.com 816-474-1919

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

VIOLENT BY DESIGN Nehemiah Cisneros March 12 - May 29, 2021 Violent By Design is an arc of Los Angeles-based painter Nehemiah Cisneros' own "Ghetto Mythologies" created from 2019 to 2021 during the artist's residency in Kansas City, Missouri. The work merges the graphic aesthetics of 90's skateboard graphics with the theatrical scale of the Baroque painting of the 1600s. The two-part show challenges American history with humor and satire. While living in the Midwest, Cisneros draws connections to Los Angeles gang culture and the Midwest's embrace of confederate flags.

Through these examples of communities functioning as tribes that show pride through gang symbols painted on buildings or Flags that nod to a racially segregated time, Cisneros summons stereotypical characters of each opposing side, having them do battle amongst one another, questioning the theories of nature and nurture. Are we Violent By Design? Or is there hope for a possible redemption to our species?

Violent By Design opens publicly on March 12th and will be on display until May 29th in the heart of the Kansas City arts community in the Crossroads. In conjunction with Habitat Contemporary Gallery and Leedy Voulkos Art Center.

VIOLENT BY DESIGN 1 March 12 - April 27, 2021 Habitat Contemporary Gallery (located within LVAC)

VIOLENT BY DESIGN 2 April 2 - May 29, 2021 Opie Gallery

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

Biography Nehemiah Cisneros is a senior in the painting department at Kansas City Art Institute. Nehemiah returned to college after taking a decade off from school where he previously studied illustration at Art Center College of Design, during gap in between colleges, Cisneros pursued the career of a freelance illustrator, bouncing between various clothing and skateboard companies. The shift between brands and clients forced Cisneros to re-examine his own identity as an artist, and in 2017 he decided to seek the discipline that he believed came with completing his BFA degree. Since re-enrolling at KCAI, Cisneros has been making studio work revolving around his life experiences and the inspirations gained from his fellow artist community at KCAI. Artist Statement My paintings bring to life exaggerated expressions of humanity through cartoon satires. I explore the socio/political relationship between authority and people of color. I often focus on how laws and criminality affect our communities.

I examine the imagery and history of cultural stereotypes that I have been subject to being branded as, which at times have endangered my freedom and my life. My works unleash grotesquely exaggerated renderings of authority figures and icons. I juxtapose imagery such as hooded warrior gang members decapitating a mutated American bald eagle. My paintings also mock the criminal justice system that has failed to serve Black and Mexican people. I portray images of courtroom judges as blindfolded babies frolicking in a bowl of wine. My personal experience of growing up in south-central Los Angeles informs my views of mainstream culture and how it continues to fail our community. My practice also explores the figure through erotic portrayals of nude bodies transforming into fantastic creatures and imagery that highlights the fetishized worldview news media consumers have become addicted to seeing.

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Foreign Escapes In The Everglades Acrylic on Canvas 108” x 64” 2019 $3,000 For more information, please click on this link.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Violent By Design 2 Acrylic on Canvas 84” x 64” 2019 $4,000 For more information, please click on this link.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Violent By Design Interlude Acrylic on Canvas 37” x 41” 2019 $2,500 For more information, please click on this link.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Slauson Ave Bacchanal Acrylic on Canvas 72” x 60” 2020 $2,000 For more information, please click on this link.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Violent By Design Parade Acrylic on Canvas 110” x 64” 2021 $ 5,000 SOLD For more information, please click on this link.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Violent By Design Museum Acrylic on Canvas 108” x 60 2020 $5,000 For more information, please click on this link.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Violent By Design 4 Acrylic on Canvas 108” x 60” 2020 $5,000 For more information, please click on this link.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Playfully Serious Acrylic on Canvas 64’ x 84” 2020 $4,000 For more information, please click on this link.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

WEHO Ink on Canvas 108” x 64” 2021 $4,000 For more information, please click on this link.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Black Executioners Ink on Canvas 72” x 72” 2020 $2,500 For more information, please click on this link.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Afro Venetians Ink on Canvas 72” x 72” 2020 $2,500 For more information, please click on this link.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Cool Runnings 2 Acrylic on Canvas 48” x 58” 2020 $4,000 For more information, please click on this link.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Seduction Of Vice Ink and Acrylic on Canvas 64” x 84” 2021 $5,000 For more information, please click on this link.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Tandem Acrylic on Canvas 64” x 84” 2020 $3,000 For more information, please click on this link.

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center

March 12 - May 29, 2021

VIOLENT BY DESIGN | Nehemiah Cisneros

Nehemiah Cisneros Instagram | @nehemiahcisneros Website | nehemiahcisneros.com

Leedy-Voulkos Art Center