NinaJohnson

Raúl de Nieves (b. 1984, Michoacan, Mexico) is a multimedia artist, performer, and musician, whose wide-ranging practice investigates notions of beauty and transformation. De Nieves’ visual symbolism draws on both classical Catholic and Mexican vernacular motifs to create his own unique mythology that often challenges and explores themes of sexuality, the human body, and individual and public histories. Having learned traditional Latin American sewing and beadwork at school and alongside family members, his work pays tribute to and invents upon traditional forms. Through processes of accumulation and adornment, the artist transforms readily available materials into spectacular objects, which he then integrates into immersive narrative environments.

Recent solo exhibitions include those at Apalazzo Gallery, Italy; ICA, Boston; MOCA, North Miami; SCAD Museum of Art, Savannah; Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland; Company, New York; Apalazzo, Brescia and Freedman Fitzpatrick, Los Angeles. Additional group shows include those at Museum of Arts and Design, New York; Jeffrey Deitch Gallery, Los Angeles; K11 Art Foundation, Hong Kong; Swiss Institute, New York; New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans; The Museum of Art and Design, New York; the Zabludowicz Collection, London as well the 2017 Whitney Biennial and MoMA PS1’s 2015 Greater New York. De Nieves has performed at Documenta 14, Performa 13, MoMA PS1, ICA Philadelphia, The Watermill Center, The Kitchen, Artist’s Space and numerous other venues. His work is included in public collections at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles.