Mexico City Art Master Makes a Huge Houston Impact

What: “Javier Marín: Masterworks” Opening

Where: Art of the World Gallery

PC Moment: A chic international set came out to toast the opening of acclaimed artist Javier Marín‘s latest show, “Masterworks,” which marked the sculptor’s first-ever exhibition in Houston. The Mexico City-based artist’s large, immersive sculptures – many of giant heads powerfully gazing off into the distance or with lips pursed, summoning an imagined wind – were a beautiful and slightly surreal backdrop among the gleaming interiors of Art of the World Gallery.

The setting was a perfect place to take in Marin’s sculptures in bronze, resin, and iron; the intimate crowd contemplated each of the artist’s Baroque and classically inspired works.

In an interview with PaperCity before the opening, Marín stated, “I don’t work for exhibitions. I do whatever I like and each sculpture finds their own way.”

This series of sculptures, featuring the aforementioned large, disembodied heads (alongside horses, contorted bodies, and alphabet soup-like vignettes) also plays with form while representing an amalgamation of the ancient and Renaissance worlds with a nod to Mexico’s own rich archeological history.

As the artist says, “I took these faces that were indigenous and put them with this wig that was very classical.” This subtle characteristic gives his work added dimension, from socially conscious to downright playful. Many art appreciators posed with the sculptures, pretending to be blown back by a massive wind, or stood behind the heads, gesturing to push them and their pursed, blowing lips forward as if it were a car in neutral.

Marín, who has twice shown at the Venice Biennale, is celebrating his achievement with a new catalog that surveys this exhibiton and his career, with an intro by PaperCity‘s Catherine D. Anspon. Guests left with copies of the catalog and also enjoyed clever and delicious bites catered by Frida Valentina’s chef Adriana Avendano, including cookies bearing Marin artwork images. The crowd toasted the artist with wines curated by Beviamo International.

PC Seen: Art of the World co-directors Liliana Molina and Mauricio Vallejo, with staff Mauricio Sampogna and Pamela Encinas; gallerist Eduardo Mier y Terán, in from Mexico City, where he represents Marín in his stable; designer LeTricia Wilbanks and husband Ronnie; Oscar and Bruce Banta-Guevara; Duyen and Marc Nguyen with daughter Anais; Dr. Tatiana Sorkin with Michel Coret; Frédérique and Gil Goodrich; DeeAnn and Marcus Thigpen; restaurateur Polo Becerra; architect Ben Koush and Luis de las Cuevas; Hilary and Ned Crady; Joel Sánchez; Cemex VP Raúl Durán Cáceres; Jose Antonio Yuriar; Catalina Martinez; Claudio Gutierrez; Larry Smith; Vanessa Escobar; and Fox Sports’ Felipe Valenzuela.

Additional reporting by Catherine D. Anspon