ROGUE BUDDHA GALLERY &
NICHOLAS HARPER CONTEMPORARY ART
 
 
 
 
     
GRONK
 

Influenced by surrealism and German expressionism, Gronk's paintings reflect Chicano traditions while wryly (or ruthlessly) commenting on themes of ethnic identity, high and pop culture, romantic love, and mortality.

A nationally renowned performance artist and painter, Gronk had known from an early age that he wanted to be an artist. "Drawing was as an escape for me - from poverty, from my environment. It was a way of creating new worlds for myself." Several of the prints include depictions of his signature image of "La Tormenta," a solitary figure with her back facing the viewer. A reoccurring theme, this metaphoric figure is ambiguous: sometimes comical, sometimes tragic.

In addition to his paintings and prints, he has created set designs for opera productions in Los Angeles and Paris. More recently, he collaborated with the Kronos Quartet and the Los Angeles Opera.
 
     
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©2010 Nicholas Harper. All Rights Reserved.