During the August Bronzeville Art District Trolley Tour, a patron of the arts asked me who the figure in the piece was, which I'm proudly displaying on the walls of the Phantom Gallery Chicago Loft. My mind went completely blank. I knew the artist but not the subject, so I said something totally random, and the look I got was like, REALLY!?
Henry Fisko
I collected this artwork, created by artist Henry Fisko; it was a study for his People Chair sculpture, one of 26 metal chairs that were commissioned by the Florin Road Community Beautification Project. A small windstorm during the 13th Annual Sacramento Banana Festival at William Land Park damaged the artwork. The Phantom Gallery Chicago covered the damage and donated funds to the National Academic Youth Corps, DBA Sojourner Truth African Heritage Museum.
Acrylic on Canvas: A Study of
Alfredo Ramos Martínez, 2023
I was drawn to this artist because of his unique way of capturing the defining features of Mexican people while staying true to their identities. I also enjoy the muted color palette in his artworks, whether they be still lifes or portraits. Many of his artworks depict a person with specific object(s) that denote a responsibility or job, which plays well with his color choices. One defining characteristic of his style is placing his subjects in a broad landscape that contextualizes each work.
--
-Henry F
Alfredo Ramos Martínez
Acrylic on Metal
2023
Alfredo Ramos Martínez was a painter, muralist, and educator who lived and worked in Mexico, Paris, and Los Angeles. Many consider him the 'Father of Mexican Modernism'; Ramos Martínez is best known for his serene, empathetic paintings of traditional Mexican people and scenes.
Alfredo Ramos Martínez was a Mexican artist who was commissioned to create artwork in the United States from the 1930s until his death in 1946. Martinez was commissioned to work at the Chapman Park Hotel, Scripps College in California, and the Normal School for Teachers in Mexico City. He exhibited his work at the Los Angeles County Museum, the Assistance League Gallery, the SF Museum of Art, and the Faulkner Gallery. Many of his personal artworks reflect indigenous life from Mexico. Many scholars cite Alfredo Ramos Martinez as the founding father of Modern Mexican Art because of his extensive work depicting indigenous life in Mexico.
