MiApogeo.com - Multimedia Talent, Multi-Talented Artist: Pepe Villegas

Multimedia Talent, Multi-Talented Artist: Pepe Villegas

Estrella in Many Worlds

Pepe Villegas es una Estrella de Mi Apogeo!

Architect by academia and multimedia artist by choice, Pepe Villegas was born Roberto
Jose Villegas in1964 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Since early childhood, Mr. Villegas has deftly utilized his innate artistic abilities braced by a powerful dogmatic upbringing to set on a journey of intimate communication and expression; hence suffusing his art with deep-seeded details of innermost feelings.

A graduate Architect from Pratt Institute, Mr. Villegas worked at the offices of renowned architect I.M.Pei, and the late landscape architect Bruce Kelly in the early 90’s.

In 1991, a hard-to-resist opportunity landed Pepe on Bruce Weber’s Vogue Magazine 100-year anniversary editorial, a life-changing event that positioned Mr. Villegas among the most reputable agencies in the modeling world. From 1991 to 1996 Pepe was represented by Irene Marie (Miami), Boss Models (NYC), Success (Paris), Model Plan (Milan) and Gunn’s Men Inc. (Tokyo). Travels and the exposure to different cultures, collateral benefits of the modeling world, marked a turning point in Mr. Villegas life, a chance to discover his true love, art.

Since 1997 the self-taught artist has created a body of work that reflects his journey of continuous growth and maturity, unveiling his true self in a thematic, narrative and figurative way. His provocative imagery run the gamut from his signature architectural portraits to luscious travel and interior design photography From vibrant unseen flows of water, to realist human portraiture that captures “the oneness that we all share” within his creative vision..
Pepe Villegas has also evolved artistically as an accomplished contemporary video artist.
His work has been featured in The New Yorker, Artforum, Time Out, Bloomber.com, Zink Magazine, The New York Sun, amongst others.

Among Pepe Villegas bodies of work exhibitions are:

“The Will of an Epoch” at The Charles Cowles Gallery, New York, NY (06-08/2008)
Landmark Architecture Collection
“PepeVillegas” at BAG (Brooklyn Artist Gym), Brooklyn, New York (08/2007)
Mixed media solo show.
“Gallos” at Casa Adela, East Village, New York City (03/2007) Mixed media paintings. Cockfighting motif.
“Closed Captioned” at Food Bar, New York City (11/2006). Media mass consumerism illustrated through photography and video utilizing the closed captioning device for an unconventional perception.
“MEMORIA” at Artsee, Meat Packing District, New York City (03/2006) Photo-documentary recreation of the abandoned industrial complex C.O.R.C.O. in Penuelas,Puerto Rico.
“Inner Beauty” at Symrise, New York City (01/2006) Collaborative project of the Artist, Perfumers and renowned Noses. .Merging photography and scent to create a sensual experience of inner beauty.
“Warrior” at GEGM New York, Starret-Lehigh Building New York City (02/2005) Photo-documentary and “Warrior” video premier.
“UnseenFLOW” at Richard Pinabel’s, New York City (11/2004). Hudson River water series and “UnseenFlow” video premier.
“Pepe Villegas” at La Taza de Oro, New York City (11/2004) Oil painting portraits.
“I choose to see only with eyes of love” at Karin Kohlberg Studio (07/2004). A series of the artist blurred images open to the viewer’s interpretation.
“The Witness, glimpses of the Manifest”, at Food Bar, New York City (12/2003). A collection of images that reflect the observer’s point of view in spontaneous sudden moments. Photographs of Bali, Mexico and Puerto Rico.
“Cockfights,” Atelier 14, New York City (3/1998). A metaphor of the cockfighting sport juxtaposed against the drama of human survival instinct. Oil paintings.

Other group shows exhibitions:

“Modern Photographs: The Machine the Body and the City” at The Parrish art Museum
Southampton, NY 09/2008) Charles Colwles private collection
sponsored by The Miami Art Museum
“ACRIA/Conde Nast Domino Magazine Bazzar” at Sylight Studios,
New York City (9/2007) Benefit for AIDS Research
“CONBOCA” at Galeria Candela, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, (01/2007)
Guest Artist Video installation
“GLAAD/OUT AUCTION” at The Metropolitan Pavillion, New York City (10/2006)
Best Emerging Artist Nominee Photography Category.
“FLUX” at Table 50, New York City, (01/2005) Video presentation & photography. An unpredictable collision of art, music ang life.
“In art we trust,” at the CSV Center, New York City, (1/2005).
“GLAAD/OUT AUCTION” at the Altman Building New York City (11/2005)
Best Emerging Artist nominee Mixed Media Category.
“GLAAD/OUT AUCTION” at the Altman Building, New York City (11/2004)
“ArtWalk NY,” at the Gagosian Gallery, New York City, (10/2002)
“Occupied Spaces” at KCGallery, New York City, (10/2002) Water photography.
“ This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ” (Organization of Puerto Rican Artists)
At the Museo de las Americas, Puerto Rico (12/1999).

Pepe Villegas is represented by the Charles Cowles Gallry in New York City.
www.pepevillegas.com