Tierra Adentro
Mindy Solomon Gallery is pleased to present Tierra Adentro, a solo exhibition of Venezuelan born, Santa Fe based artist José Sierra. Self taught, Sierra draws inspiration from the dramatic landscapes, intensely colored mountains and coffee mills of his youth.
Part traditional pottery and part organically inspired abstract sculpture, Sierra cites Pre-Colombian art and the architecture of the Andean region as visual influences. Wheel thrown forms are altered and slashed conveying movement that bends, folds and undulates. Bright colors inform surfaces, punctuating the warm textured ceramic expanse. The use of contrasting colors provides a refreshing perspective on the treatment of the clay surface.
“My inspirations include pre-Hispanic art and architecture, and contemporary architecture and design. I also feel a connection with Japanese and Korean potters such as Wada Morihiro, who was also inspired by Pre-Colombian art. I also am drawn to the work of Tatsusuke Kuriki, Jun Kaneko, Robert Turner, and Ken Price. I am also influenced by modern Venezuelan artists like Jesús Soto, Alejandro Otero, Carlos Cruz Diez, and Gego.”
Committed to crafting a body of work that is unique and accessible, Sierra brings to Miami a Latin-American conversation-one that is full of memories and history yet informed by a sense of discovery and innovation. We are excited to introduce the work to a new audience of collectors.
About José Sierra
José Sierra was born in Mérida, Venezuela in 1975. While José is a self-taught artist, he was introduced to ceramics at the University of the Andes in Mérida, Venezuela from 1993-1996, where he learned the basic skills of mixing clay, glazes, as well as wheel throwing.
In 1996, José began working professionally as an artist in Mérida, Venezuela, doing sculpture. In 2000, José moved to Iowa where he dedicated himself to both sculpture and pottery. José currently resides in New Mexico where he is a studio potter.
