Evita Tezeno takes over the Luis De Jesus Los Angeles Contemporary Art Gallery with her new series of large-scale collage paintings, entitled “The Moments We Share Are the Memories We Keep“. The exhibition, which runs until October 28, 2023, offers visitors an immersive experience in a universe imbued with joyful, soothing memories. The opening of this exhibition will take place on Saturday, September 2, 2023, and promises to immerse viewers in a warm and welcoming atmosphere. Using mixed media, Evita Tezeno manages to evoke a peaceful, playful everyday life, creating an evocative atmosphere that is sure to leave a lasting impression.
Born in 1960 in Port Arthur, Texas, Evita Tezeno graduated from Lamar University, then lived and worked in Dallas. She was awarded the 2023 Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship in Fine Arts from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation in New York. In her works, the contemporary artist depicts moments of joy shared in the daily lives of close family and friends. Through a palette of varied, deep colors, these works of art share with the public feelings of happiness and happy memories of the artist.
Indeed, “My Life, My Story” is a solo exhibition by Evita Tezeno in 2022, in which, opting for visual narratives, the artist illustrates moving everyday scenes of black life. She lets us into her intimacy, introducing us to new friends, family and endearing moments in her life. The “When Family Gathers” series of works also reflects this same emotional sharing impulse, where through these paintings Evita Tezeno depicts rich cultural moments from her childhood and emphasizes the importance of family meals and the sacredness of mealtime conversations in black American homes.
“The Moments We Share Are the Memories We Keep” represents the artist’s fourth solo exhibition with the gallery, where, as in her previous works, she infuses her love into each of the characters she depicts to clothe them with elegance, attributing a dignified feeling to her canvases. Other paintings depict various aspects, sometimes trivial, sometimes crucial, of our contemporary artist’s daily life.
The artist’s works are a veritable succession of anecdotes and enriching key moments in her life. To convey so much emotion in her creations, Evita Tezeno uses acrylic paint, a combination of richly patterned hand-painted papers, vintage buttons inherited from her grandmother and other media to depict the familiarities and joys of growing up in South Texas.
Evita Tezeno‘s work is included in numerous permanent collections at art institutions such as the Pizzuti Collection, Columbus, Ohio; Bill and Christy Gautreaux Collection, Kansas City; Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas African American Museum; The Bunker: The Beth Rudin DeWoody Collection, Palm Beach, FL; Figge Art Museum, Davenport, IA; Embassy of the Republic of Madagascar; Arthur M. Lewis, Los Angeles; Rodney M. Miller Collection, New York; among others.
The artist has recently exhibited his work in a number of prestigious venues. Solo exhibitions include “Out of Many” (2023) at the Houston Museum of African American Culture in Houston, TX, “My Life, My Story” (2022) and “Better Days” (2021) at Luis De Jesus Los Angeles, “Memories and Mounts” (2021) at Just Lookin’ Gallery in Hagerstown, MD, “Memories Create Our Yesterdays and Tomorrows” (2019) at Thelma Harris Garris Gallery in Oakland, CA, “#Us Too: Phenomenal Women” (2019) at the African American Museum in Dallas, TX, “Memories That Speak to My Soul” (2018) at Stella Jones Gallery in New Orleans, LA, “Thoughts of Time Past” (2017) and “Memories of Yesterday” (2014) at Peg Alston Gallery in New York.
She has also participated in duo exhibitions, showcasing her artistic talent alongside other renowned artists. These include “Sharing Memories” (2021) at the ArtCentre of Plano in Plano, TX, where she shares the stage with artist Jas Mardis, as well as “Piece by Piece” (2020) at Just Lookin’ Gallery in Hagerstown, MD, where her work is highlighted alongside Carolyn Crump.