José Lerma’s practice investigates painting, and attempts to collapse the historical with the autobiographical. His final works are part art history, part personal mythology and several recurring themes deal with the tension between the heroic and the pathetic, and the rise and fall of great figures. While his work is rooted in painting, the final product usually results in elaborate installations that are often created with office materials, musical instruments and home furnishings.
Read MoreJosé Lerma (b. 1971 in Spain) lives and works in Chicago, IL. He has an upcoming solo exhibition at the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo San Juan, Puerto Rico, and recent solo exhibitions include La Bella Crisis (2014), Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit, Detroit, MI; Gloriosa Superba (2014), Kavi Gupta Chicago | Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL; Guaynabichean Odyssey (2014), David Castillo Gallery, Miami, FL; The Unitedstatian (2014), Van Horn Gallery, Düsseldorf, Germany; Los Turistas (2014), Diablo Rosso, Panama, Republic of Panama; European Mixed Masters (2014), Andrea Rosen Gallery, New York, NY; Robusto Parasite, (2014), Roberto Paradise, San Juan, PR; BMO Harris Bank Chicago Works: José Lerma (2013), Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, Chicago, IL and The Credentialist (2012), Museum of Contemporary Art Raleigh, Raleigh, NC.
Recent group exhibitions include Eric’s Trip (2014), curated by Cynthia Daignault and Mark Loiacono, Lisa Cooley Gallery, New York, NY; Pangaea (2014), Saatchi Gallery, London, UK; Paper (2013), Saatchi Gallery, London, United Kingdom (catalogue); The System of Objects (2013), curated by Andreas Angelidakis, Deste Foundation, Athens, Greece (catalogue); On Painting (2013), Centro Atlantico de Arte Moderno, Gran Palma, Canarias, Spain (catalogue). Select public and institutional collections include Milwaukee Art Museum, WI; Saatchi Collection, London; Museum of Fine Arts Houston Houston, TX; Chazen Museum of Art, WI; A. De La Cruz Collection, Puerto Rico; Colección Berezdivin, Sancturce, Puerto Rico; Dakkis Joannou Collection, Athens, Greece.
