After a couple of spectacular days of installation, the Westbund Art & Design Fair in Shanghai has finally opened its doors. And I’m standing here, surrounded by my newest series—a full year’s worth of work—now hanging on the walls, meticulously arranged by the incredible Caelis Galería team.
Proud? Yes. Satisfied? Absolutely.
And that’s rare for me to say. I’m usually my own harshest critic, constantly convinced a piece is never truly finished. But today? I’m looking at this 4-by-4 grid of paintings and, to my surprise, I’m smiling. There’s something satisfying about seeing it all laid out, each painting in its place, each brushstroke exactly as I intended (or close enough).
What’s even more remarkable is watching people interact with my work. There’s something magical about seeing a stranger, camera in hand, pausing to capture a moment with one of my paintings. They smile. They seem genuinely thrilled. And that thrills me.
It takes me back to the beginning, when I first had the idea for this series. Years ago, I started with a simple concept: to bring art brut—raw, unfiltered, almost primitive art—out into the light. Year after year, I built on that idea, layering in new elements, evolving styles, each experiment a step closer to…whatever this is now. And now, here it all is. Years of practice, bold choices, happy accidents, all suspended on a wall in Shanghai, casting a bit of color (and maybe a bit of joy) into people’s lives.
And do you know what?
Today, for once, I think I’ll just let myself enjoy it.
