Henry Bermudez

Contact Information

henrybermudezart@yahoo.com

Phone: 267-315-5585

http://www.henrybermudezart.com/

1816 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125

Please contact artist for purchases, commissions, etc.

Painting

Drawing

Painting

The Visitor

The SuperHeroes

Artist's Biography

Henry Bermudez’s interest in the visual representations of cultures and mythologies have appeared in his work in varying forms during his career. A journey of unique geographical, artistic and human observation has taken him from educational experiences in small isolated communities in the Caribbean up to representing Venezuela in the Venice Biennial. His artistic work transcends timeline and national boundaries.

In the Venezuelan coastal Afro-Caribbean community of Borbures, religious and social syncretism provided a unique vision of the African Diaspora in the Americas with its symbolism and iconography. These were his first impacts in the process of breaking from the formalities of mainstream styles learned in school. With these early experiences came the desire for new forms of expression.

Mr. Bermudez attended the National Schools of Art in Venezuela and was awarded a scholarship to the National School of Art "La Esmeralda" in Mexico City. He also studied at New York City’s Art Student’s League, as well as in Rome. He was selected to be the Venezuelan representative for the 1986 Venice Biennale. His work has been included in many exhibition catalogs such as the X International Print and Drawing Exhibition of China as well as in books on the subject of Venezuelan art.

Since his arrival in the USA in 2003, he has been commissioned by the Mural Arts Program of Philadelphia on several major projects. In 2011, he was one of a handful of artists chosen to work with the Philagrafika print collaborative founded by artistic director and curator Jose Roca. In 2012 Mr. Bermudez received a Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant. He was elected to present an installation at The Philadelphia International Airport Art program in Philadelphia, PA. Currently, he is the recipient of a Peter Benoliel Fellowship from CFEVA in Philadelphia, PA.

He currently teaches art at the Career Academy Developing Institute (CADI) and at Fleisher Art Memorial. He is co-director of HouseGallery1816 in Fishtown and maintains an active studio and exhibition schedule.

Artist's Statement

I am a seasoned American contemporary artist born in Venezuela in 1951. Emerged from the Caribbean tropics, my artistic life has been an unexpected hybrid of ideas informed by an acute sensitivity to the past, stenciled as part of a personal inventory onto different foreign places that throughout my life have become my home and my artistic working territory.

My paintings are steeped in mythical dream imagery within an otherworldliness of carefully constructed creature and plant forms. Further defined by my identity as a Latino, my work combines symbols and myth from ancient pre-Hispanic cultures with the iconography of contemporary art. The result of this autobiographical vision is a blend of cultural diversities that further defines itself through my immersion in societies other than the one I was born into. Through my exposure to religious and social syncretism, my visual itinerary became charged with powerful influences which provided a unique vision of the African Diaspora in the Americas, its symbolism, and iconography.

Selected Exhibitions

Solo

2016
Paisajes, Galleria de Artes Visuales, University of Ricardo Palma, Lima, Peru

2015
Racso Contemporary Art, Philadelphia, PA

Inliquid @ the Navy Yard, Philadelphia, PA

2014
Flight Plan: Drawings on paper and leaf, Henry Bermudez & Michelle Marcuse at Denise Bibro Fine Art, New York, NY

2013
Solo exhibition, Mason Murer Fine Art, Atlanta, GA

2012
Solo exhibition, The Rosenfeld Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Sum of All Parts, Henry Bermudez & Michelle Marcuse at The Leonard Perlstein Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2011
Henry Bermudez: Baroque Landscape, Philadelphia International Airport, Terminal C, Philadelphia, PA

2011
Philagrafika Invitational Print Portfolio, Collaboration with master printer Silicon Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2010
Pen.Ink.Paper, Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Encantamientos/Enchantments, The Painted Bride, Philadelphia, PA

The Garden Of Earthly Delights, West Chester University, PA

2009
A Silver Touch In My Dreams, Hard Core Gallery, Wynwood Art District, Miami, FL

2008
Con la Mirada en el Cielo, Mason Murer, Atlanta, GA

Con la Mirada en el Cielo, Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2007
Fragmented Dream, Mason Murer Projects, Atlanta, GA

2006
Fragmented Dream, Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2005
El Camino de Los Dioces, Museum of Contemporary Art, Maracaibo, Venezuela

2004
Totally Mythological, Qbix Art & Design, Philadelphia, PA

Endless Dream, Perfect Touch Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2003
Diferencias en la Continuidad, Contemporary Art Museum “Mario Abreu,” Maracay, Venezuela

Drawings, Dimaca Art Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela

2001
Nude Landscape, Art and Space Gallery, Maracaibo, Venezuela

1998
Irma Parra and Henry Bermudez, Art and Space Gallery, Maracaibo, Venezuela

1997
Enconter – Begegnung, Dietmar Jakel and Henry Bermudez, Hardberg-Bonn, Germany

1996
Gelsenkirchen Contemporary Art Museum, Germany

1993
God, Man and Nature, Simon Bolivar University Art Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela

1991
The Embassy Gallery, Miami, FL

1988
Euroamerican Center Art Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela

1986
Venice Biennale

1984
Arch Gallery, New York, NY

1983
Euroamerican Center Art Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela

1981
Heyward Robinson Gallery, New York, NY

1979
Estudio Actual Art Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela

1977
San Angel Art Gallery, Mexico City, Mexico

1975
Estudio Actual Art Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela

1973
Estudio Actual Art Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela

1972
Gaudi Art Gallery, Maracaibo, Venezuela

Group
2016
Destination Latin America, The Neuberger Museum, Purchase, NY

2015
Borderless Caribbean, Haitian Cultural Art Alliance, Miami, FL

Apollonian|Dionysian: The Constraints of Freedom, The Painted Bride, Philadelphia, PA

Current/Approaching, bahdeebadu, an exhibition celebrating 15 years of InLiquid, Philadelphia, PA

2010
Suenos: Latin American Contemporary Art, Noyes Museum, NJ

Toronto International Art Fair represented by Projects Gallery of Philadelphia, Toronto, CA

Red Dot Art Fair represented by Projects Gallery of Philadelphia, Miami, FL

2009
The Urban Show, Inliquid 10th Anniversary, Philadelphia, PA

Toronto International Art Fair represented by Projects Gallery of Philadelphia, Toronto, CA

Red Dot Art Fair represented by Projects Gallery of Philadelphia, Miami, FL

To Be Or Not To Be / A Painter’s Dilemma, Rutgers University Department of Fine Arts, Camden, NJ

Obama Rama, Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Sage Arts, South St., Philadelphia, PA

African Influence in Latin American Art, Silvana Facchini, Wynwood Art District, Miami, FL

2008
Red Dot NY represented by Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2007
Bridge Art Fair Miami represented by Projects Gallery of Philadelphia, Miami, FL

Red Dot Miami Art Fair represented by Projects Gallery of Philadelphia, Miami, FL

Red Dot Chicago represented by Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Altered Landscapes, Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Obras, Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2006
International Art Fair, Maraciabo, Venezuela

Black & White, Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Nova Art Fair exhibited by Projects Gallery, Philadelphia, Chicago, IL

2005
The Second International Art Fair of Maracaibo, Venezuela

Back from Miami, Hyder Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Art Miami 2005, exhibited by Hyder Gallery, Philadelphia, Miami, FL

2004
Between the Lines, Hyder Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Hanging Garden, Hyder Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Spirits…Seen and Not, Hyder Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2003
The Box, Goldie Paley Gallery, Moore College of Art & Design, Philadelphia, PA

2002
Labyrintum Art Gallery, Gelsenkirghem, Germany

2001
Caribbean Winds, Galica Contemporary Art Gallery, Milan, Italy

X Biennale International of Drawing, Tai Pei, Republic of China

F.I.A. 2000 (International Art Fair of Caracas), Sal Ocre Art Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela

1999
Venezuelan Artists at the Contemporary Art Museum of Caracas Sofia Imber, Caracas, Venezuela

XIII Artists for the Recuperation of the Maracaibo Lake, Contemporary Art Museum of Maracaibo, Maracaibo, Venezuela

1998
The Drawing, Venezuelan Art Center, Bogotá, Colombia

The Infinite Signs of the Sun, Contemporary Art Museum, Maracaibo, Venezuela

1997
Hierofania, Art and Mirror, Simon Bolivar University Art Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela

Animals in the Art of Venezuelan Collections, The Americans House, Palacio Linares, Madrid, Spain

1995
Special Guest by the Committee of F.I.A. 95, Int’l Art Fair of Caracas, Caracas, Venezuela

1994
II Biennale Camilo Pizarro, Cultural Center Consolidado, Caracas, Venezuela

1993
F.I.A. 93 (Int’l Art Fair of Caracas), Minotauro Art Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela

1991
Venezuela and American Friendship Association “IV Venezuela Art Festical,” Freites Art Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela

Salon de Arte Wizo, Union Israeli, Caracas, Venezuela

1990
Venezuela Emergen Art, Deutsche Bank, Frankfurt A.M., Bremer, Gotting, Germany

1989
III Biennial International of Havana, Cuba
Invitational

1987
Iberoamerican Cooperation Art Center, Madrid, Spain

United Nations Venezuela Art Center, New York, NY

Belle Art Museum, Caracas, Venezuela

Cultural Affair of the Regional Government, Maracaibo, Venezuela

1987
Grand Prize Contest Christian Dior, Caracas, Venezuela

1986
XLII Biennale di Venezia, Venezuela’s Pabellon, Venice, Italy

XX Triennial of Sacred Art, Milan, Italy

Salon of Art Alejo Carpentier, Contemporary Art Museum Alejandro Otero

1984
Three Artists for a Biennial, Contemporary Art Museum Sofia Imber, Caracas, Venezuela

1981
Drawing is Thinking, C.D.S. Gallery, New York, NY

1980
The Ancient Hands, Today Signs, C.A.N.T.V. Art Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela

1978
Drawing, Ceramic, Etching, Cultural House, Puebla, Mexico

1976
X Paris Biennial

III Drawings, Biennial of Cleveland, OH

Line of Vision, International Exhibition, Washington, DC

1975
First National Contest of Drawing and Design, University of the Andes, Merida, Venezuela

1972
First National Contest Salon Plaza, Caracas, Venezuela

Artist's Bibliography

2011
Rooney, E. Ashley with forward by Charles Yoder, 100 Artists of the Mid-Atlantic, Schiffer Publishers

2010
New American Paintings, Juried Exhibition in Print – 15 Year edition,The Open Studios Press, Boston, MA

Irreversible, Miami, FL

2009
New American Paintings, The Open Studios Press, Boston, MA
Curator: Stephen Bennett Phillips, The Phillips Collection

2007
New American Paintings, The Open Studios Press, Boston, MA
Curator: Stephen Bennett Phillips, The Phillips Collection

Silva, Carlos, Venezuela Painting History, Armitanos Editor, Caracas, Venezuela

Calzadilla, Juan, Time and Space in the Venezuela Drawing

Calzadilla, Juan, Study of Visual Art in Venezuela, Mica Editor, Caracas, Venezuela

Calzadilla, Juan, Singulars Paintings of Venezuela Art, Euzkoamericana of Editions C.A. and the Vasca Encyclopedic, Espane

Imber, Sofia, The Collection of the Museum @ Contemporary Art Museum of Caracas, Venezuela Central Bank 1940 B 1996, Caracas

Viloria, Enrrique, Henry Bermudez, Pavilo Editions, Caracas, Venezuela

El Quijote Latinoamericano @ Estampa Editions, Center for the Study of Cervante, Madrid, 1998

X International Print and Drawing Exhibition, Tai Pei, Republic of China

Professional Experience

2011
Instructor, CADI, The Career and Academic Development Institute

2010
Instructor, The Neuberger Musuem of Art at Purchase College, Purchase, NY

Instructor, West Chester University, West Chester, PA

2009
Instructor, Montgomery School, Chester Springs, PA

2004 - Present
Mural Arts Program, Philadelphia, PA

Substitute instructor for Frank Hyder, Moore College of Art, Philadelphia, PA

Public Art Projects

Mural, Honeys, 4th and Brown Street, Philadelphia, PA
Collaboration with Frank Hyder

Mural, South side of 11tH & Erie, Streets, Philadelphia, PA

Mural, Mander Recreation Center 33rd & Diamond Streets, Philadelphia, PA

The Hanging Garden mural, I-95, between Fairmount Avenue and Green Street, Philadelphia, PA
Collaboration with Paul Santoleri and Frank Hyder

Mural, Fitzwater and 12th Streets, Philadelphia, PA
Collaboration with Michelle Ortiz

Collections

Public and Private
Neuberger Museum of Art, Purchase, NY
Modern Art Museum of Mexico, Mexico City, Mexico
Venezuela National Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela
Venezuela Petroleum Company (P.D.V.S.A.), Maracaibo, Venezuela
Museum of Contemporary Art Sofia Imber, Caracas, Venezuela
Museum of Contemporary Art, Maracaibo, Venezuela
Museum of Contemporary Art A Juan @, Merida, Venezuela
Museum of Contemporary Art A Mario Abreu @, Maracay, Venezuela
Moder Art Museum of Costa Rica, Costa Rica
Puebla Cultural House, Puebla, Mexico
Museum of Art A Ralli @ Punta Del Este Uruguay
Heinz Industry, Art Collection, Caracas, Venezuela
Hans Newman Art Collection, Caracas, Venezuela
Harry Manil Art Collection, Caracas, Venezuela
Frederick D. Seely, New York, NY
Haig Garden Collection, New York, NY

Grants, Fellowships, Residencies

2017
The Libby Newman Artist Residency at The Brandywine Print Workshop, Philadelphia, PA

2016
Peter Benoliel Fellowship, CFEVA, Philadelphia, PA

Pew Finalist, Pew Center for Arts and Heritage, Philadelphia, PA

2012
Pollock-Krasner Foundation, New York, NY

2011
Philagrafika Invitational Portfolio, Philadelphia, PA

Education

1965 - 1970
Studied at the National School of Art “Julio Arraga,” Maracaibo, Venezuela

1976 - 1979
Studied at the National School of Art “La Esmeralda,” Mexico City, Mexico

1980 - 1983
Studied at the Art Student’s League, New York, NY

1985 - 1986
Studied in Rome, Italy

Recent Artist Member Mentions on InLiquid