CHICAGO, IL.- Spanning two galleries, 'one way to transform and two and three' at the Wexner Center for the Arts represents Harold Mendez’s largest exhibition to date, bringing together over thirty recent works that focus on historical and personal narratives. Mendez’s exhibition offers a collection of new sculptures, large-scale mixed-media works, and assemblages. The title, from a poem by Canisia Lubrin, emphasizes states of flux, like the continuous process of becoming and the fluidity of transformation. As a first-generation American of Mexican-Colombian descent, Mendez’s experience of being raised in multiple places informs his carefully researched works. He deepens his ongoing exploration of the historical narratives that have shaped the Americas by reflecting on familial memories and personal stories.

'one way to transform and two and three' embraces symbolism and mythology, themes of transformation, allusions to the body and concept of self, and cycles of death and rebirth. A focal point is a large wall work inspired by the pre-Columbian deity portrayed in Mexican film director Juan Mora Catlett’s In Necuepaliztli in Aztlan (Return to Aztlán, 1990) alongside Mendez’s mapping of his family’s migration. In various works, everyday objects and materials–like fabric, leather, and homemade arepas (corn cakes)–are transformed. The exhibition also includes Mendez’s first works in volcanic stone and ceramic, which were made through partnerships with Cerámica Suro in Guadalajara and the Center for Contemporary Ceramics (CCC) at California State University, Long Beach.

Mendez is currently showing at François Ghebaly, Los Angeles (closing September 9) and the Walker Art Center, Minneapolis (closing November 19).

Harold Mendez (b. 1977 Chicago, IL.) lives and works in Los Angeles, CA. Mendez received an MFA from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2007, BA from Columbia College Chicago in 2000, and attended the University of Science and Technology, School of Art and Design in Ghana, West Africa in 1999.

PATRON is a contemporary art gallery in Chicago created by Julia Fischbach and Emanuel Aguilar in 2015. PATRON is founded on the defining characteristics of a patron of the arts: a person chosen, named or honored as a special guardian, protector or supporter. With this foundation set as a cornerstone, the gallery hopes to help open new avenues for audiences to engage with and find access to contemporary art.

Patron/Wexner Center for the Arts
Harold Mendez: 'one way to transform and two and three'
August 25th, 2023 - December 30th, 2023