En El Corazón Del Infierno, En Las Alturas Del Cielo
JOEL GAITAN

March 1st – March 30th, 2024

Opening Reception:
March 1st, 2024, 5-8 PM
KDR | 790 NW 22nd, Miami, FL 33127

KDR is thrilled to present a solo exhibition of  new work by Joel Gaitan. This exhibition marks his second with the gallery, on view from March 1 to March 30, 2024. Joel Gaitan's practice is a profoundly personal exploration of his Nicaraguan-rooted ancestry and his upbringing in Miami, Florida. In "En El Corazón Del Infierno, En Las Alturas Del Cielo," Gaitan transforms the gallery as an homage to Miami's eccentric 1980s architecture, a fused inspiration with a nod to his Central American heritage— the new works unfold across distinct chapters: Genesis, The Absolute, and Revelations.

Act one, in Genesis, refers to the initial creation story of the objects themselves, calling to his descendants. The Absolute beckons viewers on a transformative journey, stirring memories, invoking power, praise, and ancestral wisdom, all seamlessly entwined with elements of pop culture and timeless narratives inspired by biblical and personal tales. In Revelations, two poignant works symbolize themes of sacrifice, protection, enlightenment, and the cyclical return to the origins of the womb, poised to herald a profound awakening or the Parousia. Lastly, the exhibition features three meticulously crafted facades resembling "casitas" reminiscent of the cherished home life and friends in Central American neighborhoods.

Gaitan's cross-cultural study challenges historical hierarchies within his practice, liberating terracotta vessels to their exalted position and keeping with themes found in sacred traditional Mesoamerican artifacts. His immersive exploration of his world traverses the ancient and contemporary realms of our collective human experience. Through ancestral spirituality, he transcends boundaries and embraces the essence of his cultural identity, which seamlessly weaves in and out of every sculpture.

Joel Gaitan Born in 1995 in Hialeah, FL. Solo exhibitions at KDR, Miami, FL; 56 Henry Gallery, New York, NY; Ballroom Marfa, Marfa, TX; and NSU Art Museum, Fort Lauderdale, FL. Selected group exhibitons include, Pace Gallery, Palm Beach, FL; The Pit, Los Angeles, CA; Jeffrey Deitch Projects, Los Angeles, CA. He was an artist in residence at Cité Internationale des Arts, Paris, France 2023. He was 2023's Art Production Fund Artist in Focus for the public art program at Rockefeller Center, NY. He was featured in CLAY POP a book by Alia Dahl. Museum and public collections include; The Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, Durham, NC; The Bunker, Palm Beach, FL; El Museo Del Barrio, New York, NY and The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, FL. He lives and works in Miami, FL

Image: Joel Gaitan, Ven, y te Sirvo, 2023, Terracotta with gold luster glaze
16 x 15 x 13½ in. JG104.

For images and information, please contact info@kdr305.com