It was a tremendous pleasure to frame the art of stellar Cuban artist José Bedia! The work came to us courtesy of Lyle O. Reitzel Gallery, a leading contemporary art gallery in Santa Domingo, and now here on the Lower East Side. The work on paper titled, Tocado desde el Principio, immediately suggested to us using one of our new riveted steel moldings. We choose a brushed darker metal highlighted by a rust color interior to complement the black, gray, and umber details in this exquisite aquatint. We floated the artwork using archival rice paste and Japanese paper hinges then protected it behind Optium Museum Acrylic. This museum grade glazing offers 99% UV protection along with a crystal clear glare resistant surface.
Jose Bedia's print finished in its new steel frame with rivet details.
Collectors often bring us art from Cuba to frame, but this one was particularly special. Bedia is one of Cuba’s brightest art stars. An internationally known figure, Bedia has had work in the Havana and Venice Biennales, solo shows in venues like the Fowler Museum in Los Angles and he is a recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship among other honors. Bedia’s style can be defined as Neo-Primitive and figurative. He is an accomplished draftsman who excelled in drawing, illustration, and comics as a student. Bedia is passionately interested in Native American culture and Afro-Transatlantic cultures. He also draws significant inspiration from “… his Santeria faith, an amalgamation of Yoruba, indigenous, and Christian beliefs, with his works frequently depicting mythical elements, altars, and other sacramental imagery, often serving as a pointed critique of colonialism”. * His work is represented in many notable collections including MoMA, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Whitney Museum of American Art, Guggenheim, Tate Modern, and the Smithsonian among others.
Team member Stascia carefully applying the paper hinges to secure the art.
Truly special art offers us the opportunity create truly special custom frame designs. Apart from exquisite metal frames like this one we offer fully customizable options that include hand painting, hand carving, gilding and hot contemporary looks in acrylics and colors. Please stop by and visit us in either our Lower East Side or Brooklyn locations and see what we can create for your special project.
Close up showing details of the frame and floated artwork.
*artnet.com
Have an unstretched canvas? Our custom framers in New York and Miami explain the best ways to frame it without stretching — no studio visit required to learn how.
