The elegance within her work is channeled through texture, color, and a sublime infusion of levity in her “quilted paintings...”
The Contemporary Art Modern Project’s newest online exclusive, Take Care, features an effervescent collection of works by Cuban-born textile artist, Mabelin Castellanos.
In the time since her debut solo exhibition, Castellanos has expanded the visual aesthetics and energy of her unique body of work without sacrificing the authentic charm that has grounded it since she began. The elegance within her work is channeled through texture, color, and a sublime infusion of levity in her “quilted paintings.” A turn to brighter patterns and warm tones further characterize this phase of Castellanos’ career, amplifying her distinct and defiant inclination toward a fabulous minimalism unlike the one the art world is used to. The artist’s hand is visible throughout the landscape of each piece, from the edges of each fragment of found fabric to the variations in shape within them, their compositions disarming attitudes of perfectionism, fear, or urgency.
Take Care is an invitation to consider the necessity of peace, play, and rest in time of change, without feeling as if we must conform to predetermined categorization or the pressure of an increasingly volatile climate. In the face of artificial intelligence and immersive, social media-driven reality, Castellanos’ pieces permit us to define or, perhaps, reframe what sanctuary looks like for us. Whether it’s found in solitude or with someone else, indoors or in community, this collection is an invitation to not simply observe discomfort and weariness, but greet these experiences with grace and humor.
Curated by Maria Gabriela Di Giammarco
