Cuban-born artist Ricardo Brey brings his transcultural perspective to Alexander Gray Associates in New York with his fourth solo exhibition at the gallery, titled “Obatalá.” The exhibition, named after the Yoruba deity of human creation, features recent sculptures and large-scale works on paper that challenge Western worldviews by centering belief systems of African diasporas.
Brey, who has lived and worked in Ghent, Belgium since 1990, combines diverse visual traditions in his artwork. His sculptures adorn contemporary plaster replicas of ancient Greek statues with found materials that evoke Afro-Caribbean religious worship. These assemblages, such as “Gorgona” and “Eshu,” merge mythological figures from Western antiquity with deities central to Santería and other Yoruba faiths, fostering dialogues between contrasting belief systems.
The artist’s drawings explore similar metaphysical themes from a more introspective viewpoint. Building on his longstanding interest in botanical imagery and the color blue, which he associates with freedom and expansiveness, Brey’s works on paper feature delicate linework offset by pattern-paper borders and handwritten titles. The compositions capture the passage of light across landscapes, offering a meditative exploration of time and nature’s divinity.
Brey’s emphasis on sourcing natural pigments for his drawings embodies the Afro-Caribbean ritual of gathering earth to carry the energy or spirit of a specific place. This practice connects the natural to the supernatural in Santería rituals, imbuing his washes of pigment with a transcendent power that invites reflection on humanity’s origins and identity.
Throughout his career, Brey’s work has been featured in numerous solo exhibitions globally, including shows at the Museum Hof van Busleyden in Belgium, the Gerhard-Marcks-Haus in Germany, and the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana in Cuba. He has also participated in prestigious group exhibitions such as the 56th Venice Biennale and Documenta IX in Kassel, Germany.
Brey’s artworks are held in notable public and private collections worldwide, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes de La Habana in Cuba, and the Stedelijk Museum voor Actuele Kunst (SMAK) in Ghent, Belgium.
The exhibition “Ricardo Brey: Obatalá” opens on March 21, 2025, at Alexander Gray Associates in New York, with a reception from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. The show will run through April 19, 2025.
