Joshua White Photography. Courtesy of the artist and Jeffrey Deitch, New York and Los Angeles.
Los Angeles-based artist Alfonso Gonzalez Jr. makes his New York debut with This Was Here, a solo exhibition that brings the essence of Los Angeles’ working-class neighborhoods to life. Opened last week at Jeffrey Deitch, the show explores the interplay between urban landscapes, community identity, and the visual imprints left by the people who inhabit these spaces.
ART
Gonzalez’s artistic journey began as a graffiti writer at the age of 12, later evolving into a career as a professional sign painter. This hands-on experience, combined with his deep connection to the streets of Los Angeles, informs his work with a unique authenticity. His paintings celebrate the distinct character of his hometown’s neighborhoods, with compositions that blend his own photographs, impressions, and memories. Though devoid of figures, his works evoke a human presence, often represented by abandoned cars or the vibrant signage of nail salons, accident lawyers, and insurance brokers.
The exhibition reimagines Los Angeles as a giant still life, layering the city’s visual markers into dreamlike compositions. Gonzalez captures the shifting nature of urban environments, offering commentary on how communities shape and redefine public spaces. His work reflects both the nostalgia of personal memory and the stark reality of rapid change.
Notable pieces in the show humorously critique the saturation of advertisements that define the city’s landscape, from billboards for accident lawyers to real estate brokers. Gonzalez offers sharp observations on the use of stereotypes and sexualized imagery in marketing, creating a vivid commentary on the intersection of commerce, culture, and identity in 2024.
Unlike many contemporary artists, Gonzalez honed his craft outside the traditional art school framework. His artistic discipline stems from years of apprenticeship and hands-on work as a sign painter, a trade he learned from his father. This rigorous training shaped both his technical skills and his work ethic, which now underpin his paintings.
Gonzalez’s deep ties to his community extend beyond his artwork. Born in East Los Angeles and raised in La Puente, he actively supports local artists through backyard exhibitions and pop-up shows, as well as curating programs for venues like John Doe Gallery in downtown Los Angeles.
This Was Here presents a mix of photo documentation and imaginative collages that blur the lines between realism and fantasy. By merging these elements, Gonzalez creates a liminal space where reality and memory coexist, offering a reflective and critical lens on the evolving cityscape.
The exhibition also examines the omnipresence of cars and sprawling highways in Los Angeles, underscoring how these elements shape the city’s identity. The layered compositions act as both a love letter to the unique neighborhoods of Los Angeles and a critique of the homogenization of urban spaces.
Gonzalez’s debut in New York is complemented by his inclusion in Ordinary People: Photo Realism and the Work of Art Since 1968 at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, opening November 23, 2024. His presence in both exhibitions highlights his growing influence as an artist who bridges the worlds of realism and cultural commentary.
With This Was Here, Alfonso Gonzalez Jr. invites viewers to reflect on the changing face of contemporary cities, exploring the marks we leave behind and the stories they tell. This milestone exhibition underscores his commitment to preserving the individuality of Los Angeles’ neighborhoods and their people, even as the world around them continues to evolve.
Alfonso Gonzalez Jr.’s ‘This Was Here’ is on see from November 16, 2024 to January 18, 2025 at Jeffrey Deitch, 18 Wooster Street, New York.
