SOUTH HOLLAND, IL – The Art & Design Department of South Suburban College is pleased to announce a special guest artist exhibition titled “Graffiti aHEAD: A Documentation of Midwest Graffiti Writers,” by East Chicago artist Felix “Flex” Maldonado Jr. in the Dorothea Thiel Gallery from August 28th through October 13th. There will also be a closing reception for the artist at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 8th. The Dorothea Thiel Gallery is located on the 4th Floor of SSC’s Main Campus.
A proud native of East Chicago, Felix is a self-taught artist with 25+ years’ experience in painting, murals and graffiti art. In 1995, he received his BFA in Advertising from the American Academy of Art in Chicago. His work has landed him at several ad agencies in Chicago directing and producing award-winning spots for companies like Culligan Water, Peoples Energy, Roto-Rooter, Head Tennis and ATA Airlines.
Felix Maldonado is an artist in every sense of the word. His passion and enthusiasm for this subject is evident in everything he makes. One particular body of work, that demonstrates many of his abilities and could quite possibly be his strongest work, is a series of portraits of graffiti artists entitled “Graffiti aHead.” Felix has chosen these people to paint because of his admiration and respect for them as graffiti artists. This comes across in the work in various ways, first and foremost the size of the works.
He creates a nonpareil perspective into the world of portrait art and begins by sitting each subject down for a photograph. Encouraged to pose in such a manner that represents themselves, their individualities come alive frame by frame. This initial photo session is imperative to Felix’s creative process for portraits as this is where he begins his “visual conversation.” These larger-than-life portraits command attention and respect, which Felix bestows upon these people. The detail in the faces of the subjects is made with care but also with a spontaneous and physical manner synonymous to the medium they all use – the spray can. Maldonado stated, “While most see a furrow of an eyebrow as just that, I see this gesture as a continuous pause in color reaction and refraction; an ever-changing palate with every expression made.”
SSC Galleries are open at minimum Mondays through Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., and Fridays from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. The galleries are closed on weekends and holidays. The public is welcome to visit art exhibitions and receptions at no charge.
For more information, please call (708) 596-2000, ext. 2445 or visit www.ssc.edu/art. SSC is located at 15800 South State Street, South Holland, Illinois.
