Manuel Pardo (1952-2012) Frenesi’ - Drawings in Colored Pencil
opening reception 6/30 & 7/1 7-9pm
Manuel Pardo – “ Frenesi’ ” Drawings
at gary marotta fine art g-1 in provincetown
“ Frenesi’ ”
As a young boy in Cuba Pardo recalls the elaborate bouffant hairdos he saw at the beauty
parlor and the posters seen at the entry promoting the latest styles. The frenetic nature of how
these creations were formed is where the title Frenesi’ is derived. The artist said the hair reminded him of cardboard cut-outs and that the beehive on top often resembled a conch shell both in form and definition. Influenced by the Motown girl groups of the 1960’s when he arrived in the U.S. from Cuba and fashion trends of the early 90’s referencing African tribal hair creations Pardo pays homage to his own heritage. The theme of this early work would be revisited in the 2000’s with his Pondillera Girls first shown in the Meatpacking District of NYC. The influence of the Hip-Hop era and Pardo’s simpatico with singers, fashion and hair culture of the times would be predominant throughout his career and echo his obsessions with design, art and culture.
These collectable works will be offered in “ Frenesi’ ”opening reception on Friday June 30th & Saturday July 1st through August 10th at gary marotta fine art g-1, Provincetown.
Manuel Pardo (1952-2012) was born on July 4h in Cardenas, Cuba. He first showed his work in New York's East Village in the eighties, where he was introduced to Marcia Tucker, founder and director of the New Museum in NY when she included him in the groundbreaking exhibition, The Other Man: Alternative Representation of Masculinity. Pardo went on to exhibit internationally in solo exhibitions in New York, Paris, Mexico City, Cologne, Havana, and Milan. Exhibitions include Late 20th Still Lifes at the New Museum curated by Marcia Tucker, Le Jardin at Museo Metropolitano de Monterrey, Mexico, and Un Cubain a Paris at Galerie Piltzer, Paris, France. Corporate commissions and events include The Motherland Series; Murals by Manuel Pardo at the British Airways terminal and JFK International airport, NY; and Hermes & Visa for Masaryk: Arte Moda & Visa, curated by Justo Sierra, in Mexico City, Mexico.
Pardo's drawings have also been featured in many exhibitions including 100 Artists see Satan, UCLA California State Fullerton; MiArt 2008 in Milan, Italy; Quinceañera for (projectroom: in the America(s) post... curated by Omar-Pascal; and Citibank Boston with Gary Marotta Fine Art g-1. Playing on the old cliché, A Gay Man and his Mother, Manuel Pardo, an openly gay artist, was best known for his series Mother & I, dedicating his work to his hero, his mother Gladys. In 2011 Manuel Pardo's retrospective took place at the Begovich Gallery, The Fullerton Museum at CSUF accompanied by the publication of his monograph Manuel Pardo Universo Sonado in Technicolor, coordinated by Andrea Harris; foreward by Susana Torruella Leval, Director Emeritus, El Museo del Barrio; and essays contributed by Mike McGee, Director, CSUF Begovich Gallery; and David Frankel, Editorial Director at MOMA, The Complex Solace of Manuel Pardo. New York Artist Manuel Pardo passed away suddenly in 2012 at age 60 shortly after the release of his career survey book entitled “Universo Sonado In Technicolor”. The artists obituary, written by David Frankel (Editor Publications, The Museum of Modern Art) appeared in The Huffington Post May 16, 2013. His monograph released by University of California State, Fullerton was published in conjunction with his career survey show in April 2011. A memorial show curated by Christine McCarthy, Executive Director of Provincetown Art Association and Museum (PAAM) and Gary Marotta of Gary Marotta Fine Art g-1 who has shown Pardo’s work since the mid-nineties was held at The Highline Loft in Chelsea in the Spring of 2013.
Subsequently Pardo’s work was shown during Art Basel Miami, December 2013 with Williams McCall Gallery in South Beach and gary marotta fine art g-1. His work is available at gary marotta fine art g-1 in Provincetown. Late paintings and drawings as well as important early paintings are made available by his surviving partner Medardo.