Rob Padilla and Mike Rivero

Paintings



Curated by:
Liza Mitchell



Artist Contact:
Liza Mitchel
310-489-8998

Dates:
April 23 –May 25, 2009
Artist Reception: April 25, 2009 7-9p m for Rob Padilla and Artist Reception for Mike Rivero on May 2, 2009 7-9pm for the Phantom Galleries Long Beach Art Walk Night and by appointment.

Location:
Phantom Galleries LA on 3rd Street
346 E 3rd Street
Long Beach, 90802

In recognition of the Havana Biennial and the recent lifting of certain restrictions by President Obama for Cuban Families, Phantom Galleries LA presents several shows related to Cuba including Viredo, Photography of Cuba from Meeno Peluce,  Helena Pasquarella and Raleigh Souther  Long Beach native Rob Padilla and Cuban born Mike Rivero. 

Rob Padilla:

Padilla's style is best describes as "the Far Side of Cubism", due to his influences by Picasso and Gary Larson, along with Latin contemporary masters.  A linear style defines his unique perspective of imagery with vibrant color that suggests whimsy.  Unlike other juxtaposed styles, his self-taught artistic expression pokes fun at fun.

Padilla's early aspiration was as a syndicated cartoonist.  In 1983, the JACC California Journalism Association of Community Colleges awarded Padilla for his artwork.

In 1997, he headed to Ensenada B.C. Mexico to enrich his artistic passion.  The small village region of La Bufadora became his home and muse.  Mother Nature and her sisters inspired his imagination to seek beauty while maintaining an offbeat sense of humor.  As a result, large scale imagery with bold brush strokes of line and color became his new art direction.

Padilla continues to paint an artistic serenade with his discovery of imagination and exploration of color- and his favorite subject: women. www.RobPadilla.com

About Mike Rivero:
 
Born in Havana, Cuba, 1959.  Mike Rivero's family left Cuba for Madrid, Spain in 1970. Between school and working odd jobs to help support his family, Mike was impressed by frequent visits to the Museo del Prado and his interest in art flourished. He painted his first oil painting at the age of twelve.
 With the early influences of Picasso and Mariano Rodriguez, Mike first showed and sold his work as an essentially self-taught artist.  He went on to study with California impressionist painter Michael Dancer and noted figurative painter Neil Nagy. The Rivero Studio was established in San Pedro, California in 2001.
 Mike's exuberant and colorful approach to modern art has been very well received and his paintings are now part of many private collections in the United States and Europe. www.MikeRivero.com
 
Artist’s Statement
 
“I consider myself an expressionist painter.  I am constantly searching for what I call a dance between color and composition.  When it comes to figurative work it is about attitude and expression.  Finally the purpose is to establish an intimate dialogue between my art and the spectator. "