ARTS: EL FRANCO LEE II: A JOURNEY THROUGH URBAN MANNERIST POP ART

The Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC) is proud to present a captivating exhibition titled "El Franco Lee II: Mid-Career Survey," curated by HMAAC's esteemed Chief Curator, Christopher Blay. This highly anticipated showcase marks the first solo museum exhibition dedicated to the remarkable works of Houston-based artist El Franco Lee II. The exhibition commences with an exclusive preview reception on Friday, June 30, from 6-8PM and will remain open for public viewing until September 2. Moreover, art enthusiasts will have the opportunity to engage in an artist conversation on Saturday, August 5 at 2PM, where El Franco will provide

By Kathleen Coleman, Arts Editor For www.StyleMagazine.com

of Houston's Hip Hop culture, particularly his evocative depictions of the late Houston Rapper DJ Screw and his Screwed Up Click (SUC), that have garnered Lee widespread recognition. This retrospective survey encompasses a collection of 30 artworks crafted over the course of El Franco Lee II's illustrious 16-year career. His artistic journey began with childhood drawings and flourished through formal training at Yale University, where he earned a BFA in painting, followed by an MFA from the School of Art at the University of Houston.

unique insights into his artistic journey. El Franco aptly describes his distinctive style as "Urban Mannerist

Pop Art," a fusion of the bizarre and grotesque that coalesce in his paintings with intriguing balance and illogical harmony.

His compressed and flattened figures give birth to grand tableaux, embodying the art of storytelling, as eloquently expressed by Outkast. Within his canvases, El Franco skillfully navigates through historical figures like the legendary boxer Jack Johnson, alongside other revered Black icons such as Michael Jackson, Michael Jordan, Tupac Shakur, and JR Richards. However, it is his masterful portrayal

El Franco Lee II proudly hails from Houston, Texas, where he was raised and currently resides. His artistic talents were acknowledged and celebrated during his formative years in the public and parochial schools of Houston, receiving recognition from esteemed institutions such as the Houston Independent School District, the Archdiocese of Galveston Houston, Houston Livestock and Rodeo, and Glassell School of Art.

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