Works

Alfredo

2019


Medium: Acrylic and oil and chalk pastel on un-stretched, hand-primed canvas

Size: 42" x 60"

Description:
An in-person portrait of the world renowned and infamous artist, Alfredo Martinez. The artist on one of her many visits of her mentor and friend, was invited in for a paint day in Alfredo's studio at the museum of Mana Contemporary. She came with a roll of canvas and her milk crates of paints, pastels and recycled cans. During a complex and controversial conversation of identity, sex, career and art, the artist worked off the energy in the room alongside a photograph she took of Martinez in his studio, documenting the essence in his eyes accompanied by the years of stress piled on through his years in the (not only the art world, but the world in general) as an activist, protesting in China with Ai Weiwei, resulting in incarceration and torture, illness and a reputation of controversial art. Lucas layered on mounts of pigment, scribbles in lines and values phrases from Martinez's mouth with pastels, to depict the depth of the artist, expressing her admiration of his (although lack of physical movement due to his illness) strength and aggressive personality. The bond of the two are apparent in the piece.

Martinez bought a car for the artist and his team to attend an art show in Chelsea, NYC, following her completion of the piece, asking her to leave everything where it was. Later that week, he phoned Lucas to say he purchased his portrait from her and was getting it stretched and framed, to reside at Mana alongside the other artworks he's acquired throughout his years.

This was one of the many noveled moments with Martinez for the artist, who's work was curated by him multiple times prior at Contra Gallery in Chelsea, NYC, where they met. She holds this piece as a special moment in her life, especially knowing that she grew up studying Jean Michel Basquiat's work, watching his documentaries on repeat as she painted as a young artist. Alfredo, a friend and colleague of Basquiat, being the mentor, supporter and later dealer of Lucas' work, completed a full circle for her life as an artist. The two remain good friends and continue to exhibit new work together, now venturing into the NFT space with Alfredo's gallery.

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