Lyle O. Reitzel Contemporary Art Gallery has been invited to the 17th edition of the prestigious Latin American art fair Zona MACO Mexico 2020, presenting a solo show by renowned Cuban artist José Bedia. Zona MACO will present galleries from 26 countries representing the Americas, the Caribbean, Asia and Europe, starting February 5th to 9th at the Citibanamex Center. This event will for the first time link four fairs simultaneously, bringing together Modern and Contemporary Art, Design, Photography and Antiques.
In the words of José Bedia:
“It's flattering to be exhibiting in Mexico again within the Zona MACO. I have a cultural-affective bond with Mexico, firstly because of my studies, since I had the opportunity to visit the country for the first time (1986) and shortly after I lived there permanently (1990-1993). I feel indebted to Mexican culture and especially to its pre-Hispanic past and its living indigenous cultures. As far as possible, I continue to go to Mexico from time to time in order to assimilate these influences first-hand, which are a very important part of my own work. Returning to Mexico, for me, is an act of perpetual learning.”
José Bedia was a pioneer of the radical transformation of Cuban Art that inaugurated the Exhibition Volumen 1, in which he was an integral part of. His passion for the primal Amerindians complemented his anthropological studies on Afro-Transatlantic cultures, studying in depth the faith, beliefs and religion of the “La Regla Kongo” (in which he was initiated in 1983), the “ Regla de Ocha”, and the Leopard Society of Abakuas, among many others. His works are in very important private and Public collections such as Museo Nacional Palacio de Bellas Artes (La Habana), MoMa (New York), Metropolitan Museum (New York), the Whitney Museum of American Art (NYC), Guggenheim (New York), Tate Modern (London), Smithsonian Museum (Washington), Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Monterrey (MARCO), the Daros Collection (Zurich), MEIAC (Spain), DA2 (Spain), IVAM (Spain), CAAM (Spain), MOCA (Los Angeles) and PAMM (Miami).
Lyle O. Reitzel Gallery participated in the beginnings of Zona MACO, then called MUESTRA 2’ in 2003, presenting a group show with José García Cordero and other up and coming caribbean artists. Over the last 23 years the gallery has taken part in prestigious international fairs like FRIEZE(New York), ARCO(Madrid), VOLTA(New York), ArteBA(Buenos Aires), KIAF(Korea), PULSE(MIAMI), SCOPE(Miami/New York), Art Miami(Miami)
The galleries participating in Zona MACO are some of the most relevant in the world's capitals, such as La Caja Negra (Madrid), Enrique Guerrero (Mexico), Henrique Faria (New York), Kurimanzutto (Mexico), Galerie Lelong & Co. (New York), Lisson Gallery (London), Pace Gallery (New York), Ruth Benzacar (Buenos Aires), Galería Alfredo Ginocchio (Mexico) and La Cometa (Bogotá)