Na'ye Perez, Sunsets in Harlem, 2021; Hand Embellished, Signed, and Numbered Limited Edition Print

Na'ye Perez’s interdisciplinary works are inspired by his coming-of-age in Ohio, California, New Jersey, and New York. Now based in Brooklyn, the artist likens his practice to that of sampling in music, collaging instead materials that range from personal memorabilia, magazine clippings, historical archives, and flavored cigarillo wrappers. These layers are further mixed with symbols, colors, and patterns that, taken together, become visual frameworks for the subjects in his mixed media paintings. Inspired by everyday interactions, Perez aims to instill empowerment and intimacy, in place of trauma, within narratives that center on the Black community. 

Sunsets In Harlem depicts an abstracted male figure carrying a child in his arms. The pair appears before a brightly hued background, made up of sourced fragments laid atop geometric blocks of colors to replicate the buildings that populate an urban environment. For ART FOR CHANGE, Perez has hand-embellished ten editioned prints with magazine cutouts and gold leaf, in a process that is conceptually similar to that of tagging in graffiti. 

Of this limited series, the artist notes, “My work is built out of labor of love, not just for Black communities but also for the people close to me. I hope to be able to contribute to my city, and to help support local organizations that provide continued accessibility to the arts.”

This limited edition is part of ART FOR CHANGE’s Spring 2021 virtual benefit exhibition, which supports artists and five New York City arts organizations––The Kitchen, Performance Space, Printed Matter, Abrons Art Center, and NADA’s new nonprofit. Of the total net proceeds of prints sold from this series, 50% will directly benefit the participating artists, and 20% will benefit the organizations.