JELLO MOON ZURIEL WATERS
On the cover:
“Parrot Cake”
Jello Moon
Zuriel Waters
April 10 - May 17, 2025
529 West 20th Street Suite 6W
New York, New York
Zuriel Waters takes influence from his surroundings to create paintings which he constructs consecutively. He explains the importance of this as, “uncontained – each piece an iteration of the last, a record of gradual evolution in a species of forms whose needs, desires and limitations dictate to me their own way forward.” The paintings exude an animated presence as if depicting strange figures or unknown creatures. Playful and expressive titles add to the characterization of the work. With these most recent paintings, Waters began enlarging the pieces and exploring horizontal compositions. This transformed them and introduced a sense of place to the abstract forms. In his own words, “I see them as clouds gestalt landscapes contained within their own borders, demi-gods of the troposphere.” They are at once a living being and landscape.
Waters forms the bouncy, bold abstractions entirely out of sewn fabric and paint. The works are both geometric and fluid as each shape flows into the next creating a lively rhythm within their rounded bodies. Waters utilizes homemade dyes to achieve intensely saturated colors. He describes this ongoing exploration, “working to develop a method for pigment dyeing at home without high heat or chemicals to fully enmesh color within the material, creating something durable (and potentially even washable) while still using strong, lightfast pigments. I want color to exist as close to the grain as possible.” Though the colors are generally flat, the surfaces of the various fabric substrates offer a consistent texture that adds depth to the vibrant segments. This along with the visible stitching makes his process evident. Cheerful and buoyant, the paintings feel as if they are floating in space.
Zuriel Waters was born in 1984 in Philadelphia, PA, and lives and works in Brooklyn, NY.
Received an MFA in Painting from the Rhode Island School of Design in 2010 and a BA in Interdisciplinary Studies from San Diego State University in 2007. Has shown work in group exhibitions throughout New York City at galleries such as Underdonk, Safe Gallery, Regina Rex, CANADA, Orgy Park and others and has recently had a solo show at Left Field Gallery in Los Osos, CA. This is Waters’ second solo exhibition with the gallery.
“Harlequin”
2024 acrylic on denim, thread, industrial felt, cotton duck, hardware 38 x 22 inches
“Steam Genie,” 2025
acrylic pigment-dyed burlap, canvas and twill, upholstery thread, felt, d-rings
40 x 81 inches
“Elle,”
2024 acrylic on denim, thread, industrial felt, cotton duck, hardware
35.5 x 21 inches
“Tongue Drum,” 2025
acrylic pigment-dyed burlap, canvas and twill, upholstery thread, felt, eye-hooks
28 x 42 inches
“Bright Sky,” 2024 acrylic pigment-dyed burlap, canvas and twill, upholstery thread, felt, eye-hooks
52 x 21 inches
x
inches
“Parrot Cake,” 2024
acrylic pigment-dyed burlap, canvas and twill, upholstery thread, felt, eye-hooks
“Ozone
Slushee,” 2024 acrylic pigment-dyed burlap, canvas and twill, upholstery thread, industrial felt, eye-hooks
52 x 21 inches
40 x 82 inches
“Moon Jelly,” 2025
acrylic pigment-dyed burlap, canvas and denim, upholstery thread, felt, d-rings
“AM/PM,”
2025 acrylic pigment-dyed burlap, canvas and twill, upholstery thread, felt, eye-hooks
43 x 28 inches
