May 31 – June 29, 2024 UTA Artist Space

403 Foothill Rd, Beverly Hills, CA 90210

(Beverly Hills, CA – May 2024)

 UTA Artist Space is thrilled to announce the upcoming opening of Hues of Affection, a new body of work from artist Hely Omar González.

The work investigates the intersection of leisure, familial love and memory through the mediums of oil paint and dye on canvas. González uses photographs he’s taken of his family and loved ones on vacation and in moments of play, intimacy and rest. The artist isolates these deep moments of connection as a reminder of the importance of remaining grounded in the present moment. He treats these moments with a level of abstraction that speaks to the way that the details of memories morph as time passes, even as the underlying emotion remains potent. 

The dyed canvas draws from traditional textile making, Shibori, the Japanese dyeing method from which tie-dye originated. Using different textile methods, González aims to make the work more approachable and recognizable. By incorporating and merging the dye and paint, González bridges cultural divides by using a visual language understood by multiple cultures, inviting many entry points for viewers of different socioeconomic and cultural backgrounds to enjoy the work. 

Season’s End (Anthony in the Garden) features an image of the artist’s friend pausing after clearing and preparing the land following the harvest on his Cannabis farm. This is a brief moment of enjoying the natural beauty of the sunset after a day of hard work. Many of the artist’s earlier series focused on acts of labor and this piece is a bridge between these works and his current focus on leisure. 

Abuelita en paradiso (Grandma’s Hands) features the artist’s grandmother enjoying the sunset in Mexico after celebrating González’s wedding. The sheer joy of the moment is enhanced by the chromatic environment the artist builds up with the dyes and paints. While highly specific to the artist, the imagery remains open and invites viewers to recall their own memories. 

“Introducing Hely Omar González to our audience is a true honor. His compelling story and art capture introspection amidst the chaos of nature and the human condition, offering timely and profound insights. We are excited to share his unique saturated vision and powerful narrative with you,” says UTA Fine Arts Coordinator Ago Visconti.

Hues of Affection will be on display from May 31st to June 29th at the UTA Artist Space in Beverly Hills.

ABOUT HELY OMAR GONZÁLEZ

Hely Omar González is a painter based in Long Beach, California. He earned his BFA from Laguna College of Art & Design. González’s work draws from his personal experiences growing up as a first-generation Mexican American in the culturally rich and diverse Central Valley of California. Borrowing from documentary strategies, González uses the framework of narrative fiction as he reconsiders representations of labor, race and leisure. González’s work has been exhibited at venues including the Santa Monica Museum of Art (now the Institute for Contemporary Art Los Angeles), Charlie James Gallery, Ochi Gallery, Praz-Delavallade Projects and Tlaloc Studios in Los Angeles, CA; Muzeo Cultural Center in Anaheim, CA; and the Long Beach Museum of Art, Artistic Edge Gallery, The New Americans Gallery in Long Beach, CA and Open Gallery in Long Beach, CA. His work has been featured in publications including LA Weekly, HYPERALLERGIC and the Long Beach Post.