Jose Romero Jr.

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Artist Statement

I develop my paintings largely through subconscious inspiration. Often, a symbol, an image, or a phrase will begin my creative process. Within this process, an academic component of research drives my ideas. Methodical investigations into art history focusing on the storytelling paintings of the Northern Renaissance fuel my desire to understand me as a painter. Studies into psychology create a deeper understanding of the implications my surreal imagery may carry. Cultural iconography along with the use of intense color and unique perspectives enhance the power of my imagery.

Currently, the results from these influences are confessionary paintings. Autobiographical narratives that confront male issues that focus on male relationships with parental figures, women, and siblings and so on. Within this structure, I visually discuss emotional abuse, vulnerabilities, and insecurities and many mistakes that in life that still haunt me. This issue and subject go far beyond my life, affecting everyone who has ever had a broken relationship or every person on the face of the earth, regardless of race, gender, nationality, social class, or religious creed.

I want to persuade the viewer us to look beyond the aesthetic and challenge their universal issues, question their paradigms, all the while encouraging internal dialogue.