ONOFRE FRIAS A/P "FLOR DE CAYENA" VENEZUELA LATIN ART h THIS IS AN EXTREMELY EXCLUSIVE PIECE BY ONOFRE FRIAS HAND SIGNED ARTIST PROOF PRINT TITLED: "FLOR DE CAYENA". HE IS WELL KNOWN WORLDWIDE FOR HIS QUALITY PAINTINGS THAT ARE SO VIVID AND THOUGHT PROVOKING. YOU CAN FIND HIS WORKS DISPLAYED IN PUBLIC PRIVATE GALLERIES/ INSTITUTIONS, AND ESPECIALLY IN THE HOMES OF AVID COLLECTORS OF LATIN AMERICAN CONTEMPORARY ART. ADD THIS BEAUTIFUL PIECE TO YOUR CURRENT COLLECTION. THIS PIECE IS HAND SIGNED BY THE ARTIST. ITEM IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION FRAMED MATTED IN PLEXIGLASS WITH A SEALED BACKING. FRAME MEASURES 24" BY 18" INCHES Born in 1953, Tacarigua de Mamporal, Venezuela, Onofre Frias infuses his work with a hybrid content that strives to find the Universal in the Local. Frías' canvases involve the subject matter of flowers, pure color, and texture exploding from a picture surface composed of canvas, sheer fabric, and acrylic paint. The artist has done a series of flower paintings during the past years entitled Soul Grafts (Injertos del Alma), wherein the flower motif represents myths, religions, chants, traditions, spiritual and sacred space. In more recent work the flowers become a direct symbol of celebration within the traditions of a wake. Used as offerings to remember the dead, flowers serve as metaphor to the brevity of human life. In Venezuela, as in most Latin countries, wakes have a festive character, including dance, song, storytelling, and general celebration throughout the evening. With Un velorio en Nueva York / A Wake in New York, an exhibit that took place originally in December of 2000, at the Consulate of Venezuela in New York City, Onofre Frías confronts our consumer society with the values, traditions, and customs of Venezuela; he evokes the ritualistic character of his homeland in order to contribute to the consciousness, freedom, and spirituality of all people. His is a visual language that does not ignore the rest of the world, but is first and foremost planted firmly in the warmth and rhythm of his country. Onofre Frias has exhibited throughout Venezuela and in France, Italy, Malta, Spain, and the USA. He currently resides and works in Caracas. One Person Exhibitions: 2004 Espace-Zafra, Paris, France / Hatman Art space, Miami USA / Alianza Francesa, Caracas 2001 "Un Velorio en Nueva York", Venezuelan Consulate, New York, USA 1998 Tovar Museum of Art, Merida / Guest Center Macagua II, Ciudad Guayana, Bolívar 1997 Medicci Gallery, Caracas 1996 Ascaso Art Gallery, Valencia, Carabobo 1996 Venezuelan Week on Toulouse, France 1995 Sala Mendoza, Caracas / Sala de Arte del Sur, Cuidad Guayana, Bolívar / D?Museo Gallery, Caracas / Moros Gallery, Maracaibo, Zulia 1994 Sin Límites Gallery, San Cristobal, Tachira / Sala Mendoza, Caracas 1993 Municipal Gallery of Puerto la Cruz, Anzoategui 1992 Luis Astorga Museum of Modern Art, Merida, Merida / Centro de Bellas Artes de Maracaibo, Zulia / Astrid Paredes Gallery, Caracas 1991 Astrid Paredes Gallery, Caracas 1990 Sala Mendoza, Caracas 1988 Los Espacios Calidos Gallery, Ateneo de Caracas 1986 Arte Hoy Gallery Caracas / Universidad Central de Venezuela Gallery, Caracas. 1981 Art Gallery, Instituto Universitario Pedagogico of Caracas. 1980 Espiral Gallery, Cristobal Rojas Fine Arts School, Caracas. Group Exhibitions: 2004 FIA Feria Iberoamericana de Arte, Caracas / Chamber of Commerce Medellin, Colombia / Aliaza Francesa, Paris, France 1998 Recent Venezuelan Art, B.B.K., Colonia, Germany / International Art Center and Contemporary Creation, Paris, France /1st Salon de Arte del Tachira, San Cristobal, Tachira / III Biennial de Barro de America Roberto Guevara, Centro de Bellas Artes Lía Bermúdez, Maracaibo, Edo. Zulia / 23 Salon Nacional de Arte Aragua, Maracay, Aragua / Joan III and his friends, Felix Gallery, Caracas. 1997 Salon Mayo N51, Eiffel-Branly, Paris, France / Salon Nacional de Arte Aragua, Maracay, Aragua / Malta Biennial, Malta / Venezuelan Art, L?Avant Scene, Ville de Reuil Malmaison, France. 1996 Castellano Lancellotti, Lauro, Italy / Carib Art Gallery, Broadway, New York, USA / Venezuelan Week in Paris, Cloitre des Billetes, Paris, France. 1995 III Salon Nuevas Expresiones del Paisaje, Fundacion Cultural Orinoco, Museo del Teclado, Caracas / Ateneo de Valencia, Carabobo- Ateneo de Caracas - Ateneo de Barcelona, Anzoategui / III Puerto La Cruz Fine Arts Biennial, Anzoategui / Primera Rasegna Internationale de Arte Viseve, Sant? Angelo de Lombardi, Casa de la Cultura Víctor Hugo, Avelino, Italy. Awards and Recognitions: 1997 Venezuela's Delegation Mention, Malta Biennial, Malta. 1996 1st Place Salon Nacional de Arte Aragua, Maracay, Aragua. 1994 2nd Place, Painting, Perez Mujica Award, Salon Nacional Michelena, Valencia. 1993 1st Place, Painting, Rafael Ramon Gonzalez Award, IV Puerto la Cruz Biennial of Fine Arts 1992 Gold Medal to the Venezuelan Delegation, I Caribbean and Central America Biennial of Painting, Dominican Republic 1990 CONAC Mention (National Culture Council), V National Biennial of Drawing, Alejandro Otero Museum, Caracas 1989 Emilio Boggio Award, Drawing, Salon Michelena, Valencia, Carabobo 1987 Grant, International Peace Year, CONAC, Caracas. 1985 Emilio Montesantos Award, Salon Michelena, Valencia, Carabobo. 1984 1st Place, Painting, Salon Nacional de Arte Aragua, Maracay, Aragua. Works in Public/Private Collections: Latin American Art Museum, OEA, Washington D.C. Sala Mendoza, Caracas Museo de Bellas Artes, Caracas Museum of Modern Art, Bogota, Colombia Le Frac for France, Martinique Seguros la Seguridad Tiuna Films Carabobo Chamber of Commerce Cartones of Venezuela, AGPA Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Caracas Sofía Imber Polar Foundation