Rafael Ferrer: Recent Paintings

The Spruance Art Center is pleased to present an exhibition of recent paintings by Rafael Ferrer, one of the country’s leading contemporary artists, on the Beaver campus Wednesday, April 10 with a gallery talk by the artist at 4:00 PM followed by an opening reception from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. The public is cordially invited to attend both events.

This exhibition offers an unusual opportunity to see a one-person exhibition of Ferrer’s current work in the Philadelphia area.

As a native of Puerto Rico, Ferrer’s paintings are intrinsically related to his tropical origins, yet deal directly with the present. His large scale paintings all contain figures in a variety of dramatic tropical landscape settings: beaches, palm groves, a garden, or a shady terrace. The color is starting in its energy and expresses a deep personal vision. What emerges is a scene removed from the real world while paradoxically conceived through the idea of a direct experience. In a recent interview, Ferrer stated that what is most important are the values of a culture instilled at an early age and it is his growing up period that dominates his perception of reality in his art. Zina Holdsmith, Gallery Director, states that one of the exciting experiences in viewing the paintings is in their ability to transform the figures and settings into works of art that reflect these deep passions of the artist and are able to arouse these passions in others.

Ferrer is a great admirer of Philadelphia where he has lived since 1967. His work has been included in innumerable one-person and group exhibitions in museums, galleries and universities throughout this country and abroad including the Hirshhorn Museum, Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C.; the Venice Biennial Exhibition, Venice, Italy; and the Biennial of Contemporary American Painting and Sculpture, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City. Selected public collections include the Museum of Modern Art, New York City; the Philadelphia Museum of Art; The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York City; and the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City.

Ferrer’s lecture is supported by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts; his exhibition which continues through May 1 is supported by the Beaver College Forum Committee and Department of Fine Arts, and through the courtesy of the Nancy Hoffman Gallery, New York City.