Artist Statement
Andrè Pagano’s work is rooted in an exploration of identity, culture and religion. Andre discovered his love of painting at the age of six when he first saw the studio and work of Andrés Bueso, a well known Puerto Rican artist. Throughout his life Andrè’s style continues to evolve and grow. Inspired by the chiaroscuro period, the work of Bosch, Rembrandt and Caravaggio Andre plays with concepts of dark and light metaphorically and literally.
Andrè’s Puerto Rican heritage blends three distinct cultures, this Caribbean mix is an ever-present aspect of his voice and work, at times confusing, given the intersection of historical cultural erasure and forced identity politics.
Pagano’s body of work reflects this sense of diversity, he mixes techniques to engage the viewer on many levels. Scale is a notable aspect of his work, meeting the gaze eye to eye. Pagano employs a variety of techniques to evoke a sense of complexity to match the diversity of the symbolism he’s drawn to.
Addressing themes of Latinx and native identity, cultural displacement, and Colonial imposition, Andrè uses a bold palette, to highlight and re-contextualize culturally significant imagery.
Drawing from personal experiences as well as his native Antilles history, Andrè Pagano highlights Afro-Caribbean, native Taíno, and Spanish influences to weave his own interpretative tapestry that reflects a rich but fractured Latinx identity.