Skip to Content
Art

Preview: Patrick Martinez’ “Forbidden Fruit” ~ opens April 11th

2:55 PM PDT on April 8, 2015

ForbiddenFruit_PMartinez

Somewhere in a warehouse East of downtown, Patrick Martinez conjures the soul of Los Angeles and extrudes neon, junk food packaging, weaponry, and other everyday items. His ceramic works include garish objects of (average) desire that have been flipped into something both alluring and repulsive. Supermarket-style fruit becomes almost pornographic, junk food is reimagined into something even more absurd than it already is, and weapons are both glorified and made common.

Martinez has long been fascinated with consumer products, and even staged one of the best installations of recent memory inside a Tapatio market a couple of years ago, where his neon signs created absurdities among what could be considered even more absurd-- standard supermarket tableaus of advertising mixed with foodstuffs.

This show seems to take the concept a bit further, as if to say that life is absurd, the things that fascinate us are ridiculous, but they're also a part of who we are. Martinez shows us that the line between what is considered normal and what is considered outré is just a matter of packaging. A perfect example would be his Honeybear-Old English mashup, which makes you remember that the kid getting breakfast in the morning and the dude on the corner with a 40 in a bag in the evening are the same person. The window to the Los Angeles soul may have bars on it, but it's lit by neon and what's inside has no boundaries.

Keep reading for a show preview and for the official press release...

photo 2(2)
YePbUGTCoVAFDy2uKQD7o3OrC3PciuTKEKyctFS9QL1gXGi8uWfKfruq1xiz6EqdAUKqHuErLkRhVaTzQUnlBPZqKkUFWcD6H9ae6r3sLLP0lTNAfGTamxDd6fDh_8LRFznCN5u8wqqDcIIqPnEw1xq81vxw6QAlG-t4HUrwmQ9eRgLbtekcMBbueg6uIw2oZUyLF3lwfmZsdWQGq2Hbhyds
1s2-V65y3WH8sE85j60sakyEWJIre56zNM6uw0r3cNuFTurG4oeBhvdch46Ri2yBxF4nRjDGXeVEatrtGK4Tk3jGh9kgtGl0hwSqmB82VhnkEn8FNVh5uhqlCv_hIgMGz0k2GLHtfyoAG7tEKi-3evHn-5-aO79mAHt1ZY2Y2JJbZrUxKfsR6J4rBllblUHXAGRROFdLyQzt9PoZkD_wJyJ7
Screen Shot 2015-03-25 at 12.51.09 PM

New Image Art is pleased to present the much-anticipated solo exhibition of Los Angeles native artist Patrick Martinez. This will be Patrick's first solo exhibition with New Image Art and will feature a wide range of work including his bold hallmark neon paintings, new sculptural works, and the use of installation.

With the creation of FORBIDDEN FRUIT Martinez further investigates the use of ceramics, all of which are hand built using traditional techniques of glaze and firing. These objects are then pushed further aesthetically by the use of neon lighting and paired alongside painted contemporary scenes depicting images of colorful neighborhood personalities, local liquor store offerings, and cherished loved ones. From the corner store bodega with its “checks cashed” neon sign to the bustling Grand Central Market fruit stands, Martinez portrayal of LA culture is distinct and authentic.

PMartinez_02
PMartinez_01
Martinez_Flier_2

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from L.A. TACO

L.A. Spent Over $1.73 Million on These Controversial ‘Anti-Homeless’ Signs. Do They Actually Work?

Earlier this month, a leaked memo from the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) suggested that these 41.18 zones rarely led to unhoused people being moved into interim shelter or permanent housing. After being cleared, most 41.18 zones quickly became repopulated.

March 27, 2024

Two New Lowrider-Inspired and Dodger-Blue L.A. TACO Hats Are Now Available!

Wear your L.A. TACO swag and support our inclusive, street-level community journalism!

March 27, 2024

A Morning-Only Taco Pop-Up in Northridge Is Making the Biggest Breakfast Burritos in the San Fernando Valley

What does it take to stand out in Los Angeles's saturated taco climate? Focus on San Fernando Valley-style loaded breakfast tacos, "breakfast quesadillas" with crispy cheese skirts, and the beefiest breakfast burritos Balboa Boulevard has ever seen.

March 26, 2024

The Second Round of TACO MADNESS 2024 Is Now Open for Voting! Meet ‘L.A.’s Sweet 16’ That Advanced

Save the date! Our 15th annual taco tournament is taking place on April 13th at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes near Olvera Street. Pre-sale tickets are now available. Our online tournament starts on Monday. Check out this year's contenders!

March 26, 2024

Meet L.A.’s Queen of Carnitas Succeeding In a Male-Dominated Taco Style

Her Michoacán-style carnitas are so tender, crispy, and sticky, that she's known to sell more than 1,200 pounds on Sundays alone. What sets her apart from other carnitas stars in L.A. is her commitment to making handmade corn tortillas, too. Her story of resilience is the stuff of taquera legends.

March 25, 2024
See all posts