Te Dire Quien Eres: Isabella Mellado - 1541 W Chicago Ave

April 10 - May 25, 2024
Overview
Te Dire Quien Eres, Isabella Mellado - 1541 W Chicago Ave
  Te Diré Quien Eres is a solo show of paintings, photographs, and small works by Isabella Mellado. The works in this show are to the artist as sigils are to the witch, and are a visual exploration of self-actualization through relationships—coven, platonic, romantic, familial & self. The title of this show is an excerpt from Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel Cervantes, directly translating to “Tell me who you surround yourself with and I’ll tell you who you are.”

  Mellado underlines queer trauma and Catholic shame by making reference to religious symbolism in Renaissance art. By relating gargoyles, demons, and angels as seen in catholic art to the queer-coded figure in their paintings, Mellado reclaims and humanizes the queer “sin” and subsequently, the queer monster. Centralizing queer narrative as the artist has lived it, Mellado frames it with symbolism taken from mythology, folklore, tarot, astrology, and Puerto Rican pop culture.
Works
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Press
Press release

CHICAGO (March 19, 2024) – Povos West Town is proud to present Isabella Mellado: Te Diré Quien Eres, the first Chicago solo show for Puerto Rican artist Isabella Mellado, and the inaugural exhibition for Povos Chicago’s third year of programming and subsequent expansion to a second gallery location downtown. The exhibition will be on view from April 10 through May 25, 2024. 

  

Mellado’s exhibition of paintings and small works is to Mellado as sigils are to the witch. This insignia of work reflects Mellado’s visual exploration of self-actualization through relationships—coven, platonic, romantic, familial & self. The title of this show is an excerpt from Don Quijote de la Mancha by Miguel Cervantes, directly translating to “Tell me who you surround yourself with and I’ll tell you who you are.”


Mellado underlines queer trauma and Catholic shame by making reference to religious symbolism in Renaissance art. By relating gargoyles, demons, and angels as seen in Catholic art to the queer-coded figure in their paintings, Mellado reclaims and humanizes the queer “sin” and subsequently, the queer monster. Centralizing queer narrative as the artist has lived it, Mellado frames it with symbolism taken from mythology, folklore, tarot, astrology, and Puerto Rican pop culture.

 

“It will be our first exhibition in the renovated flagship space and our first exhibition with Isabella, but I think I speak for the whole Povos team when I say we want to open up with a bang,” said Lucca Colombelli, Povos’s founder. “It will set a certain magical tone for the year that I think persists in the rest of the 2024 programming at both locations. As a gallery committed largely to artists with unique languages and the ability to translate different cultures, Isabella is a welcome addition to the Povos ecosystem.” 


Mellado most recently exhibited at ESTACIÓN MATERIAL with Swivel Gallery as part of Mexico City Art Week 2024. 

    

Te Diré Quien Eres is timed to coincide with EXPO Chicago, during which time Povos is thrilled to make its international art fair debut in the esteemed EXPOSURE section. On April 12, Povos Downtown will celebrate its official opening with a group show featuring works by spotlighted Povos artists including Carolina Pereira and featured EXPO artists Ashkon Haidari and William Schaeuble. For more information about Povos Downtown and/or the gallery’s plans for EXPO, please reach out to press@povoschicago.com. 

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