Raúl Acero - Colecciones

Raúl Acero

“Colecciones"

Artist Statement

“Colecciones” Raúl Acero

The art of my ancestors, the early peoples of Africa, Meso-America, and the Pacific Islands, has always been a touchstone and inspiration for me. Natural history museums are my favorites because, there, I can be immersed in the artifacts of prehistory - works of nature, fossils and ancient tools that show the processes, creativity and intelligence of our ancient grandfathers and grandmothers. Like them, I work mostly with simple, earthbound materials such as raw pigment, clay, and wood to create figurative sculpture, pottery, and paintings.

“Colecciones” describes the various groupings of this work, their type, direction and meaning. Each grouping relates to the others in different ways. The main commonality is their connection to my roots in Colombia, where I was born, and the ways in which I view my ethnicity. The collection of heads points toward the fate and place of brown people in both South and North America. The heads are made in various sizes, colors and textures representing the variety and diversity found within native people and people of color.

Many of the paintings also refer to the colonization and destruction of native people by colonizers. Pottery and small sculptures also refer to the types of artwork made by Native Americans in South America. These influences and histories are filtered through my artwork and are reimagined and made manifest.

Though my work is not usually politically motivated, my choices of materials and subject matter, particularly racial and ethnic content, has placed my work in that realm. And I embrace it. Within the hierarchy of the contemporary art world there has been little room for the voices of artists of color or those working with non-precious materials. My awareness of this has led me to continue to make art from my perspective as an immigrant, and to use humble materials to place more of this work in the world in spite of the biases that exist. To achieve this, I work in a variety of media, using whatever means needed to create a potent image. I cycle through and sometimes combine sculptural and two- dimensional materials gaining momentum and insight as I go along.

I value the handmade and am deeply affected by the enduring power of indigenous art and craft. And as a result, ideas of the progression of time and memory’s mutability play a large role in my thinking. I seek to make works that are difficult to pin down in terms of time and place, to evoke a sense of the timeless -- to speak to an elemental part of the human soul.

“Nosotros” (Us) Ceramic, Dimensions Variable 2021

“Boca Abajo” (Upside Down) Acrylic, Digital composite, Ink on paper 22” x 30” 2021

“La Primera Violencia” (The First Violence) Acrylic, Digital Composite, Ink on paper 22”x 30” 2021

“Mosaico del Tiempo” (Mosaic of Time) Watercolor, Gouache, Digital Composite on Paper 22” x 30” 2021

“El Tesoro” (The Treasure) Wood, Glass, Found Object, Acrylic Paint, Ink 21” x 9" x 4" 2021

“Los Hijos” (The Children) Wood, Found Object, Acrylic Paint, Ink, Photo Transfer 21.5" x 17" x 4" 2021

“País Perdido” (The Lost Country) Acrylic, mixed media on board 12" x 16" 2020

“Pandemonio” (Summer 2020) Acrylic on Paper 18" x 12" 2020

El Pasado Lindo (The Beautiful Past) Acrylic, Mixed Media on Paper Mounted on Board 18" x 12" 2020

“Fantasmas Milagrosas” (Miraculous Ghosts) Acrylic, Mixed Media on Paper Mounted on Board 18" x 12" 2020

“El Grito” (The Shout) Acrylic, Digital Composite, Mixed Media on Paper 22” x 30”

Hermanito# 1 14” x 7” x 6” Ceramic 2021

Hermanito# 2 14” x 7” x 6” Ceramic 2021

Hermanito# 3 14” x 7” x 6” Ceramic 2021

Celestial Vessel #14 11”x 8 x 8” Ceramic with Underglazes 2021

Vessel # 10 11”x 8 x 8” Ceramic with Underglazes 2021

Vessel # 11 9”x 8 x 8” Ceramic, Sagger Fired 2021

“Speaking With The Angels” Acrylic, Charcoal, Pastel on Paper 22” x 30” 2021