About the Artist:
Franck de las Mercedes is Nicaraguan-born interdisciplinary artist and poet living and working in New York City. His body of work aims to explore the challenges and commonalities in understanding, articulating, and embracing the harsh and usually contradictory realities of contemporary life. Influenced by abstract expressionism, pop art, rock carvings, and Nicaraguan primitivism, he defines his style as “Popstract Expressionism.” The artist references childhood memories, family dynamics, and current events often incorporating handwriting to evoke a familiar intimacy with the subjects and story.
Artist Statement:
I create images that explore societal issues, family dynamics, recollections from childhood, and current affairs. Inspired by rock carvings, abstract expressionism, and Nicaraguan primitivism, my aesthetic is characterized by vivid colors, jagged lines, and texture. My art seeks to generate an emotional connection with the viewer by providing a gateway for self-discovery and finding common ground, as well as by establishing a visual place where artistic self-inquiry and documentation become a conduit for reflection on our human condition. The work submitted is layering, painting, and photography, digital collage, into paintings, with written language that tell both personal and collective stories.
