Art in Continuous Evolution

April 10, 2025 - June 6, 2025
Philadelphia

Wexler Gallery is proud to present Art in Continuous Evolution, a solo exhibition of new works by celebrated Philadelphia-based artist Henry Bermudez. Known for his ever-evolving artistic approach, Bermudez continues to push the boundaries of his mythologically inspired aesthetic through bold experimentation and hybrid techniques. This exhibition marks a striking evolution in his practice, featuring highly graphic, dimensional sculptures on a significantly larger scale, alongside a limited edition suite of hand-painted prints.

Venezuelan-born artist Henry Bermudez is known for his distinct style, drawing from myth, religion, and legend to create works that reflect the crystallization of ideas shaped by fear, adulation, and obsession. His powerful body of work explores the complexities and contradictions of identity, seamlessly blending pre-Hispanic, Judeo-Christian, and Afro-Caribbean influences.

Bermudez gained international recognition early in his career, representing Venezuela at the XVII Venice Biennale in 1986. His artistic journey has been deeply informed by his time in the Amazon and the AfroCaribbean village of Borbures, where he immersed himself in the region’s myths and religious syncretism. Later, in Mexico, he further explored the intersection of colonialism, religion, and mythology, refining his visual identity through otherworldly creature-plant forms.

In 2003, while traveling in the United States, Bermudez discovered that his work was deemed a threat to Venezuela’s authoritarian cultural policies. Forced into exile, he found refuge in Philadelphia, where he has continued to develop his artistic voice, maintaining deep connections to his Venezuelan roots while reflecting themes of displacement and cultural adaptation.

Though initially a painter, Bermudez has expanded his practice across a variety of media, incorporating paint, cut paper, glitter, fabric, and assemblage to create intricate, layered compositions filled with vibrant color and texture. Mythic Dimensions introduces a striking new facet of his work—sculptural forms that extend his dynamic visual language into the realm of three-dimensional space. These new works, alongside his handpainted prints, offer an immersive experience of Bermudez’s evolving artistic narrative.

Bermudez’s work has been exhibited extensively throughout Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the United States, with pieces housed in esteemed collections such as the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Neuberger Museum, the Modern Art Museum of Mexico, and the Venezuela National Gallery. A recipient of a PollockKrasner Foundation Grant in 2012, Bermudez continues to live, work, and teach in Philadelphia, where his art serves as an autobiographical meditation on cultural fusion and personal reinvention.