On View presents images from noteworthy exhibitions
 

A REAL SENSE OF COMMUNITY and familiarity threads the portraits of Evita Tezeno. A selection of new works by the artist is currently on view at Luis De Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles. Her characters possess overwhelming pride in their surroundings, their loved ones, and the attention paid to how they represent themselves. Viewing Tezeno’s lively colored work replicates a leisurely drive through a small Black town, encountering its most fascinating figures, passing by shotgun houses and acres of green landscape or leafing through an old family photo album and seeing mixed-media collage versions of beloved relatives on page after page.

Born in Port Arthur, Texas, Tezeno lives and works in Dallas. Inspired by her memories of growing up in South Texas, her family and friends are top of mind during her creative process. According to the gallery, Tezeno “begins with sketches and lush textures and patterns painted onto paper using acrylic paint, watercolor, crayon, and various other mediums and techniques. She traces and cuts out shapes and arranges them to form the face and various parts of the figure, the clothing, and the landscape elements in the background.”

“Evita Tezeno: Better Days” is the artist’s first solo exhibition in Los Angeles. Made in 2020 and 2021, 14 acrylic and mixed-media collage works on paper, board, and canvas are presented, including a series of individual portraits called “I Am a Black Man.” Downcast eyes reflect the concern expressed in works such as “Will I Be Here for My Future” and “Downhearted Blues.” Whether the show’s title (“Better Days”) reflects on the past, describes the present, or is a hope for the future, Tezeno’s characters are imbued with unwavering dignity spanning generations. CT

 

“Evita Tezeno: Better Days” is on view at at Luis De Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles, from March 6-April 17, 2021

 


Installation view of “Evita Tezeno: Better Days” is on view at at Luis De Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles, from March 6-April 17, 2021. | Courtesy Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


EVITA TEZENO, “Will I Be Here For My Future,” 2020 (acrylic and mixed media collage on ragboard, ​40 x 30 inches). | © Evita Tezeno, Courtesy the artist and Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


Installation view of “Evita Tezeno: Better Days” is on view at at Luis De Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles, from March 6-April 17, 2021. | Courtesy Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


EVITA TEZENO, “Just the Two of Us,” 2021 (acrylic and mixed media collage on canvas, 48 x 48 inches). | © Evita Tezeno, Courtesy the artist and Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


Installation view of “Evita Tezeno: Better Days” is on view at at Luis De Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles, from March 6-April 17, 2021. | Courtesy Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


EVITA TEZENO, “My Little White Girl Dress,” 2020 (acrylic and mixed media collage on ragboard, ​40 x 30 inches). | © Evita Tezeno, Courtesy the artist and Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


Installation view of “Evita Tezeno: Better Days” is on view at at Luis De Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles, from March 6-April 17, 2021. | Courtesy Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


EVITA TEZENO, “I Am A Champion,” From I Am A Black Man series, 2021 (acrylic and mixed media collage on rag paper, 22 x 15 inches, Framed: 27.5 x 20.25 inches). | © Evita Tezeno, Courtesy the artist and Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


EVITA TEZENO, “Don’t Walk in the Dark,” From I Am A Black Man series, 2021 (acrylic and mixed media collage on rag paper, 22 x 15 inches, Framed: 26 x 19 inches). | © Evita Tezeno, Courtesy the artist and Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


EVITA TEZENO, “I Know Who I Am,” From I Am A Black Man series, 2021 (acrylic and mixed media collage on rag paper, 22 x 15 inches, Framed: 27.5 x 20.25 inches). | © Evita Tezeno, Courtesy the artist and Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


EVITA TEZENO, “My Life Tells Where I Have Been,” From I Am A Black Man series, 2021 (acrylic and mixed media collage on rag paper, 22 x 15 inches, Framed: 27.5 x 20.25 inches). | © Evita Tezeno, Courtesy the artist and Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


Installation view of “Evita Tezeno: Better Days” is on view at at Luis De Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles, from March 6-April 17, 2021. | Courtesy Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


Installation view of “Evita Tezeno: Better Days” is on view at at Luis De Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles, from March 6-April 17, 2021. | Courtesy Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


EVITA TEZENO, “Shotgun Boggie,” 2021 (acrylic and mixed media collage on canvas, ​48 x 48 inches). | © Evita Tezeno, Courtesy the artist and Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


EVITA TEZENO, “The Soul Knows My Silence,” 2020 (acrylic and mixed media collage on ragboard, ​40 x 29 inches). | © Evita Tezeno, Courtesy the artist and Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


Installation view of “Evita Tezeno: Better Days” is on view at at Luis De Jesus Gallery in Los Angeles, from March 6-April 17, 2021. | Courtesy Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 


EVITA TEZENO, “Mothers in Waiting,” 2020 (acrylic and mixed media collage on ragboard, ​40 x 30 inches). | © Evita Tezeno, Courtesy the artist and Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 

TOP IMAGE: EVITA TEZENO, “Downhearted Blues,” 2021 (acrylic and mixed media collage on canvas, 48 x 48 inches). | © Evita Tezeno, Courtesy the artist and Luis De Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles

 

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