The McLoughlin Gallery is pleased to present American Family, the debut solo exhibition of Venezuelan native, LA
based artist Cristóbal Valecillos. Through the use of photography the artist captures the amalgamation of cultures
and heritages that make up a contemporary American family transposed inside a cardboard home. A full-scale
replica of an American house made entirely from paper and recycled material will be on display during the
exhibition. Pushing through cardboard doors, visitors will be immersed into a transient existence.
In his previous body of work, A Cardboard Life, Valecillos satirized the archetypal wealthy American contemporary
home. Meticulously coiffed models dressed on paper garments posed theatrically as family members in domestic
settings made entirely from cardboard materials. The artist created an eco-realm of beauty, exposing the exquisite
impermanence of fashion and the transient nature of existence.
Valecillos' new body of work delves deeper into the realm of today’s American family. Responding to the diversity
of American society, the artist comments on the United States as a country comprised of an ever-changing mix of
immigrants and locals of different heritage. The American Family addresses this fusion of different backgrounds,
ethnicities and cultures in flux. It is exactly this variation and multiplicity that makes the American family a
captivating subject for the artist to explore.
Combining subversive social commentary with a unique method of delivery, Valecillos succeeds in breaking down
all boundaries, balancing firmly on the razor edge of contemporary art. The monochromatic scenes in American
Family are social snapshots with an environmental narrative. Cardboard is the vehicle for the story, and by clever
manipulation the artist imbued it with new life. Through the fine crafting of paper products recycling becomes
elegant.
Valecillos has two decades of artistic experience in the direction of television commercials and music videos. His
trademark editorial style and provocative narrative is apparent in his former and current projects with artists such as
Justin Bieber, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears and Madonna.
ABOUT THE MCLOUGHLIN GALLERY
The McLoughlin Gallery is an approachable, inviting gallery with a social conscience. The mission of the gallery is
to educate and intrigue by showcasing established mid-career and emerging contemporary artists whose work is
unique, integrating bright, bold colors and conveying an emotional punch. Art work that makes you think. A portion
of the proceeds from the show will benefit Glide and Stanford Breast Cancer Research. The gallery is open Tuesday
through Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. and is located at the 49 Geary Street, Suite 200 in San Francisco. For
more information, please call 415-986-4799 or visit www.mgart.com