Israel, born in 1971, has been painting and drawing for more than 35 years, but also sculpts in paper mache, bronze & cast aluminum. The general public is constantly surprised at the huge body of work he has produced for a man so young. He became an apprentice at the age of 15. A full time art teacher at the age of 19, Zzepda has influenced many young artists, including various members of his own family who are aspiring artists.

He taught art and fashion illustration for more than 13 years. He has also painted more than 1000 meters of murals in both public and private places in Cancun, Uruapan, Michoacán and Jalisco. And in addition to this, he completed 6 murals in Sardinia, Italy this past summer 2011. After visiting museums in Florence, Rome and Spain, he vowed never to exhibit his work unframed again. It is worth a visit to his show, just to view the frames created for each painting, a work of art in themselves. 

There is sensitivity, innocence and a refined discipline about this young man. His work penetrates into the religious, spiritual, sexual and existential realms, reflecting over the truth and questioning established thinking. He is not afraid to express himself. "The artist is a reflection of daily life. I want to be a chronicle of my time," says Zzepda who seeks to be honest and reflect his own unique style in all of his work.

Texture also plays an important role in the idealized handling of the human figure. He can paint photo-realistic portraits, but instead sacrifices a little of the perfection of the human figure, in hopes of revealing the interior of himself. "We are all good and bad, we construct and we destroy, we are of light and somewhat dark, journeying daily through the streets of the planet."

His imaginative capacity, is perhaps, the most dominant visual feature of his work. The viewer will possibly be intrigued and will wish to apprehend the thematic contents of his paintings. He reveals himself as a witness of human suffering. The work of Zzepda appears to be recreating ambiguous and mysterious worlds. Therefore at times his paintings portray strange, desolate environments.  Zzepda also displays serene and sometimes humorous eroticism.  Also the artist embraces notoriously religious topics, as well as ontological and metaphysical subjects.

Friday, January 27
6:00pm to 10:00pm cocktails at Dante Galleria

Click here to read more news about Puerto Vallarta.