Stephanie Mercado: Live Through This

Hooks-Epstein Galleries presents the paintings of Los Angeles based artist, Stephanie Mercado. The exhibition, Live Through This, will open Saturday, December 5, 2015, with an open house from 2:00PM-5:00PM and a reception for the artist from 5:00PM-7:00PM.

Stephanie Mercado’s Live Through This, presents a new kind of history painting.

After her family lost their home, in the 2007 housing market crash, she was forced to reevaluate the proverbial “American Dream”, and the belief that hard work and determination is the road to success.  Live through This is comprised of work that examines real-estate and identity construction, with a contemporary twist.

Reminiscent of imagery found in historical European art, Mercado examines and interprets how history is recorded by changing the narrative.  Her figures live in a world where contrasting elements like 18th century wigs, vintage petticoats stamped with Louis Vuitton’s monogram or textile patterns designed by the artist, Air Jordan sneakers, and contemporary American celebrities coexist.

The narrative is constructed with a visual language that references historical paintings, contemporary art, fashion, video games and cartoons to create images that question the origins and the transformation of our values.

Stephanie Mercado received her B.F.A. in Drawing and Painting from California State University in Long Beach, CA.  She was also part of California State University’s, Drawing and Painting International Program.  Her work was part of the Coronado Studios, Serie Print Project, in Austin, TX.

Stephanie Mercado currently resides in Los Angeles, CA.