José Parlá: Roots

In Roots, José Parlá (born 1973) explores the place of his experiences and travels in the development of his work.

Grounded in Parlá’s personal first-generation Cuban American immigrant family story and an ever-evolving practice inspired by “elsewhere communities” and their contributions to America, Roots considers the relationship between local and family history and one’s past, present and future. A photograph of Parlá’s grandfather Agustin Parlá, one of Cuba’s first aviators, is the point of departure for the work―the aviator is an important source of inspiration for the artist as he undertakes his own border crossings, exploring how multicultural environments impact his perceptions of urban space. Published to accompany exhibitions at the National Young Arts Foundation and SCAD Museum of Art, both being something of a homecoming for the Brooklyn-based artist―a SCAD painting alumnus―Roots surveys a recent body of Parlá’s painting and sculpture.