Spanish artist showcases work in LIC
26 Jan
Eduardo Anievas
You might recognise Eduardo Anievas’ paintings from their occasional placements in galleries and shop windows around LIC. He has had studios in Hunters Point for three years and recently moved from a large loft area on 5th Street to a smaller, ground level, space at 48th Avenue, between Vernon Boulevard and 11th Street. This position makes his work more visible and accessible to passers-by.
To show his work Eduardo has shifted from extravagant, sangria-laced “Open Studio Series” events in the loft space to making his new studio open for walk-ins on Saturdays from 1 – 6pm. Whilst this might seem daunting to those who might not know what to say to an artist in his workplace I can reassure you that Eduardo will welcome you warmly into this space and may even let you in at other times, if you just knock at his window.
Eduardo comes originally from Santander in Northern Spain, just an hour’s drive from the famous Guggenheim museum in Bilbao. He has been in the US for some 14 years, and is now married (to an American, Elizabeth, a performance artist), with a daughter due in June. His work has been shown in galleries in Europe and the US but he now prefers to sell his paintings directly via personal contact, local exhibition and the internet.
As an artist you can immediately tell that Eduardo has excellent skill and credentials from his portrait of the Spanish actor, Fernando Fernán Gómez that hangs in the studio. This is not for sale and has been carried around from country to country as a kind of artistic passport that shows how well he can paint in a realistic style. However, his work shows strong stylistic variation with, as a common theme of equal emphasis on figure and background.
A look at the paintings on his wall, as well as his website, shows that Eduardo has created a “signature” style of figures in silhouette against a range of backgrounds. Although he has painted these for 16 years they have developed and create different emotional impacts that derive from varied conjunctions of people, colors and backgrounds; sometimes geometric and sometimes more organic. These, however, are only a proportion of his work and a tour of his studio will show his range of subject matter and style.
I especially enjoyed Eduardo’s portraits and his representations of the female form whether nudes, in portrait or in formal poses; many of which have great energy. Some have flamenco as their theme. Others, more subtly, convey powerful abstract energies that surround the female figures in ways that suggest dance. Some paintings convey a quieter mood, especially that of a reclining nude, which has a calmness that allows the beauty of the form to stand apart from its background.
In the end Eduardo’s work must be seen to be appreciated. You can see more examples of Eduardo’s work on his website, or visit him at 1015 48th Avenue, Hunter’s Point.
His studio is open, try knocking.
by Eric Hathaway
His work is well worth seeing
This guy is the real deal: His work is fresh and original and pleasing to the mind and eye. I have one hanging in my home and I am always showing it to my impressed guests.
love Eduardo’s work & hope to own one his paintings soon!
Looooved his art work! We need more artists like him in LIC.
Indeed, Eduardo is a great talent and a real gift to not only the LIC artistic community, but also to the whole city (as is his lovely wife)! And I grow to love his painting I bought a couple of years ago more each day. (Congratulations, E & E, on your daughter!!!)
Eduardo is fantasticl! We have two paintings in our home and, as a gift, were given a certificate to commission him for a third! Check out his work. You will love his use of color and shape (and the sangria is good too!)
I loved Eduardo’s work the moment I first saw it. The juxtaposition between the figure and the background are as dynamic as is his use of vibrant and subtle colors.