“There's a dry ironic twist to Paul’s paintings that give the work — while realistic — a postmodern feeling of reflection, observation and cultural critique. Somewhere between the Cohen Brothers and David Lynch but on canvas, not celluloid.” — Dr. David Salvage, artist, art critic
Paul D. Fuentes is a graduate of The Tyler School of Art and Architecture of Temple University. He worked as a designer, creative director and film director in New York.
Fuentes’ paintings blend modern life and pop culture references with conceptual and technical precision. Memorializing moments— significant and banal— his subjects appear as actors in film stills. Replacing familiar contexts with new ones, reality can become fiction prompting viewers to create their own narratives. The Couples Series explores modern identity and fame through improbable and ironic pairings of the rich and famous: Queen Elizabeth & Burger King are the new King & Queen; Kim Kardashian & Kim Jong Un represent interchangeable Kims; Bill Clinton & Wilma Flintsone pair up as a dating duo. The Kiss Series depicts fully clothed couples in passionate embrace; fleeting moments of love (or lust) freeze-framed. Wardrobe and hairstyles are distinctly retro like from 50’s “B” movies, creating interesting juxtapositions of passion vacuum-sealed in convention. In the Selfie Series his subjects snap portraits of themselves in precarious situations. A stylish woman takes a photo by her wrecked Rolls Royce. Another holds a Starbucks latte and snaps her picture in the shadow of Mount Kilimanjaro as a lion waits nearby. The subject’s safety is relinquished for a moment of ego gratification as they step out of the present to post a portrait on social media that will soon be forgotten. His subjects often appear in wardrobe that creates an obvious illusion: Putin, posed like St. Francis, wears a T-shirt popular with fitness buffs (“Sun’s Out, Guns Out”). With Putin however, the statement is quite literal.
Fuentes’ paintings have been shown in galleries on the east and west coasts including Sotheby’s New York, The White Room Gallery in East Hampton, Corridor Contemporary in Philadelphia and the nationally juried Art In Politics show at Touchstone Gallery in Washington D.C. Two works were selected for the 30th International Juried Exhibition at Viridian Gallery, New York. His portrait of Hillary Clinton, My Heart New Opened, was featured in Creative Quarterly Journal and published in The Village Voice. His illustrations have appeared in ads and publications including The New York Times. His TV work has been honored by CLIO, the Art Directors Club, The International Film and Television Awards, The Belding Awards, PROMAX, The New York Festivals and others.
Statement
“Modern themes interest me; how we live today in a high-tech world with its attendant challenges. When we can be “followed,” “ghosted” or “cancelled” I try to inject something human into my work that might resonate with viewers. I admire the classicists— Velasquez, Goya, Sargent— as well as a few modern painters. My film background is an influence helping me create movie scenes with a brush. Combining contemporary themes in a classical style I hope to engage viewers into seeing something beautiful or cool and then have them realize this may be about something else entirely. Advertising and cinematography also inform my work.”
Gallery representation
The White Room Gallery, East Hampton
Exhibitions
2024 The White Room Gallery On the Edge, East Hampton, NY, group exhibition
2023 The White Room Gallery, Naughty / Nice, East Hampton, NY, group exhibition
2023 Corridor Contemporary, Philadelphia Featured, Philadelphia, PA, group exhibition
2023 The White Room Gallery, Yin Yang, Bridgehampton, NY, group exhibition
2023 OC Arts Center, Subject to Change, solo show, Ocean City, NJ
2022 Era Contemporary Gallery, Legends of the Moon. In collaboration with NASA’s Lunar Codex destined for the moon, Polaris Mission 2023
2022 Corridor Contemporary Gallery, Philadelphia Featured, group exhibition
2021 Corridor Contemporary Gallery, Person to Person: An International Survey of Portraiture, Philadelphia, PA
2020 Alfa Art Gallery, Configured Personas group exhibition, New Brunswick, NJ
2020 Las Laguna Gallery, Portraits, Laguna Beach, CA, group show
2020 Solo show, Portraits & Pop, Ocean City Arts Center, Ocean City, NJ
2019 Viridian Artists Gallery 30th International Juried Exhibition, New York, NY
2019 Philadelphia Sketch Club 11th Annual Juried Exhibition, Philadelphia, PA
2019 Maxum Gallery, Hearts and Minds, Atlantic City, NJ, group exhibition
2019 Newport Beach Annual Art Exhibition, Newport Beach, CA
2018 Sotheby’s Ad Art Show, group exhibition, New York, NY, group exhibition
2016 Touchstone Gallery, Art As Politics National Juried Exhibition, Washington DC
2016 Featured in Creative Quarterly Journal