Stranger At My Door
Jerry Peña
General Projects
July 29 – September 24, 2023

Opening 7-10pm, Saturday, July 29, 2023

Insert Press is pleased to announce Stranger at My Door, a highly anticipated solo exhibition featuring new works by Jerry Peña. This exhibition marks Peña’s debut solo show with Insert Press and coincides with the release of a new print edition titled Say Your Prayers, Hammer Down, created by Peña. Additionally, an artist book project is scheduled for release this coming fall. The exhibition will run from July 29th to September 24th, 2023, with an opening reception on Saturday, July 29th, 2023, from 7 pm to 10 pm.

Jerry Peña, a first-generation Mexican American artist, delves into the Mexican-American experience, with a particular focus on the vibrant backdrop of Los Angeles. His artwork incorporates found objects and materials that intimately connect to his working-class background, offering a compelling glimpse into his unique experience in Southern California.

Peña’s compositions capture the raw grit of the city, shedding light on often overlooked elements of everyday life, tackling themes like gentrification, socioeconomic issues, and cultural identity. Influenced by the minimalist aesthetics of Southern California’s car culture, Peña infuses his work with a distinctive style following in a long tradition of artists working with ready-made objects. He also draws inspiration from the DIY ethos of Rasquachismo, Kustom Kulture, and practical problem-solving, while grounding his art in delicate symbols or memory objects, bridging the gap between street aesthetics and studio practices.

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Jerry Peña (b. Los Angeles 1991) holds a Bachelor of Arts in Drawing and Painting from Cal State Long Beach. Recent exhibitions include Nexus IV Raiz, Brand Library (Los Angeles CA 2023), Group Shoe 3, House Of Seiko (San Francisco CA 2023), You Ain’t Gotta Lie to Kick it, Le Maximum (Los Angeles CA 2022).