ARTS & CULTURE
Artist Valerie Campos makes her debut in Lawrence
HARRISON HIPP @HarrisonHipp
Quiet conversation began at the Lawrence Arts Center as wine was served outside a gallery housing a collection of massive, darkedged paintings with vibrant colors splashed throughout.
The paintings are by Valerie Campos, a self-taught artist who began painting at age 22. Campos has exhibited her work internationally in Mexico, Indonesia, France, Spain and Canada. Her paintings hung inside the dimly-light gallery of the Lawrence Arts Center and, for the first time after 10 months of work, were presented as a complete exhibition on Friday.
The exhibition, titled "Natural Selection: The Pursuit of Happiness," is composed of work Campos created during her residency in Lawrence, inspired by Darwin's theory of evolution.
"Those who pursue answers are known as scientists, and those who pursue questions are known as artists," Campos said in Friday evening's gallery talk downtown. "I chose the title 'Natural Selection' for this series as a way to re-interpret Darwin's theory as a unifying concept of life."
Before coming to Lawrence, she directed a year-long residency project in China titled "Nao Now" that worked to bring together artists in China with artists in Mexico, Campos' home country.
Originally from Mexico City, Campos grew up in Los Angeles. She spent much of her adult life traveling and pursuing a career in art, a history she shared with the small crowd
at the gallery talk.
"It's been a very hard process for me to be here," Campos said. "I really appreciate it."
Campos and her son encountered a hiccup in their travel plans when returning to Mexico following her residency two years ago at The Red Gate Gallery in Beijing. She learned her son, Sebastian, didn't have the correct visa and he was unable to attend school in the United States. She and Sebastian will finally reunite after her Lawrence Arts Center residency concludes. He is currently living with his father in Mexico.
"I dedicate this show to my son Sebastian, who is not here," Campos said. "This has been a very interesting journey."
After the gallery talk ended, Campos shared a short film, "Underground Tales of the Eternal Return."
VICTORIA SNITSAR/KANSAN
Several of Valerie Campos' works lie on a table during the debut of her exhibition at the Lawrence Arts Center on Friday.