Make way for Dallas Art Fair’s 15th installment, which promises to be a spectacular showing of 88 galleries from 28 countries and 48 cities. Patron’s coverage of 15 galleries representing 15 artists of note pays homage to the anniversary.
Daneil Gibson at Shulamit Nazarian, Los Angeles
Gibson, who is Mexican American, was raised in a small community in California. His family’s home was the first that migrants would reach as they crossed the border into the US. Knowing the difficulties that lay ahead as they made their way across the desert terrain, he captured in his work the treachery of this journey while bringing empathy to those who make it. In his storytelling, the largely self-taught artist incorporates a rich symbolism. One recurring motif reflects Gibson’s childhood hope that butterflies could lift the migrants to safety. Faces, legs, and hands also hide within the work, representing those trying to remain unseen.
At this year’s fair, Gibson will be the featured artist for the Los Angeles–based gallery Shulamit Nazarian. Local art patrons may remember his work from last fall’s TWO x TWO for AIDS and Art. According to Seth Curcio, a partner in the gallery, Gibson’s work gives voice to untold stories of migration. And far from relying solely on childhood memories, Gibson’s involvement with nonprofit organizations that advocate on behalf of people making their way into this country informs his work while keeping their stories alive. As Curcio notes, “The works speak to resilience and transformation. They’re hopeful paintings.” –Nancy Cohen Israel
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