The art of José Parlá
"Every so often I'm inspired to write the story of my life, and what's happening as if it was a diary," says Cuban-American artist José Parlá of his work.
Based in Brooklyn, the 42-year-old painter's murals and large-scale mixed media works have been praised for their astonishing juxtapositions of color and form.
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan
Brooklyn Studio
Artist José Parlá with CBS News correspondent Rita Braver at his Brooklyn studio.
"One: Union of the Senses"
José Parlá at his Brooklyn studio working on "One: Union of the Senses" (2014), a 15 x 90-foot mural commissioned by One World Trade Center in New York City.
From the beginning, Parlá says he knew it had to be a powerful piece: "It's a mural about strength and unity," he told CBS News' Rita Braver." And I see it more about people coming together, like the diversity in New York City. So it celebrates New York."
"One: Union of the Senses"
Called "One: Union of the Senses," it was painted in a sustained burst of impassioned creativity: "Over the weeks and weeks painting it, I started to melt into it," Parlá told Braver. "I started to feel like I was one with the canvas. I was almost tasting the paint with my eyes and I was touching the paint with my ears."
Ease
As a child, José Parlá, a son of Cuban immigrants, was a street artist in his hometown of Miami. He signed his graffiti works with the nickname Ease.
A high school teacher who spotted his talent helped him get a scholarship to Georgia's Savannah College of Art and Design when he was just 16.
In the late '90s he moved to New York. As he established himself in the Brooklyn art scene, he was invited to show his works in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Paris and London.
"Marked by Ink Stains"
"Marked by Ink Stains" (2000) by José Parlá. Mixed media on wood.
Tokyo
José Parlá at work in Japan.
"Calle Luna"
"Calle Luna" (2003) by José Parlá. Acrylic, enamel, ink, collage, plaster and enamel on wood. 4 x 8 diptych.
"Pirate Alphabet"
"Pirate Alphabet" billboard (2005) by José Parlá in Los Angeles.
"Shin Daita Hanegi No Mori, Tokyo"
José Parlá posing before his 2006 painting, "Shin Daita Hanegi No Mori, Tokyo." Plaster, ink, acrylic and oil paint, enamel and object on canvas. 6 x 16 feet.
"Autobiographical Dance of Combined Stories"
"Autobiographical Dance of Combined Stories" (2010) by José Parlá. Acrylic and ink on canvas. 6 x 12 feet.
"Character Gestures"
"Character Gestures" (2011) by José Parlá, Diptych oil, ink, collage, plaster and pigment on wood. Private collection, Los Angeles.
"Contemplating the Storm"
"Contemplating the Storm" by José Parlá. Acrylic and ink on canvas. 5 x 7 feet.
"The Wrinkles of the City"
In May 2012, José Parlá joined French artist JR to create "The Wrinkles of the City" for the 11th Havana Biennial in Havana, Cuba. For these mural installations, JR and Parlá photographed 25 senior citizens who had lived through the Cuban revolution; Parla interlaced the murals with palimpsestic calligraphic writings and paintings.
Left: Alfonso Ramón Fontaine Batista in "The Wrinkles of the City," by JR and José Parlá, Havana, Cuba.
"The Wrinkles of the City"
Left: Alicia Adela Hernandez Fernández in "The Wrinkles of the City," by JR and José Parlá, Havana, Cuba.
"The Wrinkles of the City"
Left: José del Valle de Aguila in "The Wrinkles of the City," by JR and José Parlá, Havana, Cuba.
Brooklyn Academy of Music
"Gesture Performing Dance, Dance Performing Gesture" (2012) by José Parlá, commissioned by the Brooklyn Academy of Music for BAM's Fisher building. It was his first big New York commission.
Barclays Center
José Parlá's 70-foot-long painting, titled "Diary of Brooklyn" (2012), graces the entrance of the Barclays Center arena in Brooklyn, N.Y. Parlá was selected for the commission, in part, because rap mogul Jay Z is a fan.
London
"Jaipur" (right), one of the works by José Parlá in his 2013 London exhibition, "Broken Language."
London
"Broken Language," a 2013 solo exhibition of José Parlá at the Haunch of Venison, London.
"Walls, Diaries, and Paintings"
"Walls, Diaries, and Paintings," a 2011 installation by JP at the Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery, New York City.
"Miami River Drive"
"Miami River Drive" (2015), by José Parlá. Acrylic and plaster on canvas. 47 x 79 inches.
Featured in the 2015 exhibition, "Surface Body/Action Space," at the Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery, New York City.
"Tomando Café con El Abakúa"
"Tomando Café con El Abakúa" (2015), by José Parlá. Acrylic, plaster, enamel and ink on canvas. 5 x 9 feet.
Featured in the 2015 exhibition, "Surface Body/Action Space," at the Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery, New York City.
"Bomboro Quina"
"Bomboro Quina" (2015), by José Parlá. Acrylic, enamel and plaster on wood. 1087 x 81 1/2 inches.
Featured in the 2015 exhibition, "Surface Body/Action Space," at the Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery, New York City.
"Ceramic Dish (Untitled)"
"Ceramic Dish (Untitled)" (2008) by José Parlá. Ceramic and glaze. From the Cristina Grajales Gallery in New York City.
Sun
"Luz," a sun painting created especially for CBS' "Sunday Morning" by José Parlá.
Brooklyn
Jose Parla at work in his Brooklyn studio.
For more info:
Follow joseparla on Instagram
Exhibition: "Surface Body/Action Space: José Parlá" at Bryce Wolkowitz Gallery, New York City (Sept. 12-Oct. 31, 2015)