Artist Studios Program, Spotlight Exhibition Aurelio del Muro Balandran
Aurelio del Muro Balandran: Lands of Wandering Souls.
Trazos Errantes.
Curator Alena Alekseeva
July 13-August 26, 2024
Opening Reception: July 13th at 4pm with a Fandango Jam Session at 5pm
RSVP HERE
Del Muro Balandran’s artistic process is rooted in the principles of action art, eschewing planned compositions in favor of intuitive creation. His work juxtaposes forms and shapes drawn from a rich tapestry of influences, including pre-Hispanic and medieval art, art of the Americas, newspaper layouts, and his own subway sketches.
Using charcoal, watercolors, and the serendipitous colors found on newspaper surfaces, the artist creates pieces that bridge the gap between his Mexican heritage and contemporary artistic expression. Del Muro Balandran often incorporates traditional Mexican imagery and ordering systems, such as references to the Codex Fejervary-Mayer, a pre-Columbian manuscript.
In recent years, themes of migration, birds, and trees have dominated his work, reflecting both personal experiences and broader cultural narratives. Through his art, del Muro Balandran explores the interplay between solitude and connection, history and modernity, understanding and mystery.
The artist’s evolution is deeply intertwined with his experiences in New York City. Notably, del Muro Balandran was a resident of the Bronx River Art Center Artist Studios Program for four years. This residency provided him with a dedicated space to develop his unique artistic voice and engage with the vibrant artistic community of the Bronx.
This exhibition invites viewers to immerse themselves in the unique visual language, where spontaneity meets cultural depth, and where art serves as a bridge between the artist’s Mexican roots and his evolving artistic journey.
A Fandango is a traditional call for a get-together for the community in New York and nearby cities. Son Jarocho is a music genre from the South of Mexico. They bring their instruments, and attire and celebrate by playing music and singing.
Aurelio del Muro is an artist and a musician. He was born in San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and came to New York City in 1978. For many years, Aurelio dedicated all his artistic efforts to stone carving. In 2002, he began to take his art in a new direction, exploring the figure using charcoal and ink. In 2022, in partnership with Painter Marta Blair, he created a large-scale mural for a residential building administered by Communilife. He belongs to the Mexican Folk Music group “Son Pecadores” and plays the Tuxtleco violin, the Jarana (small rustic guitar), and the cello.
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BRAC’s exhibitions are designed to affect cultural and social change through art that is both innovative and educational. We support our guest curators to present fresh arts experiences to the Bronx while nurturing our local talent. A focus of our vision is to blur the lines between professional art practice and community self-expression. Many of the artists we show embrace a social-practice mode of operation that is as much about making a sociopolitical statement as it is about creating a resonant visual experience. For each exhibit, we include community engagement activities such as tours, panels, and workshops, as well as mixers and virtual art productions that align with the pulse of our community.