West Village has thrived for almost 15 years as a mixed-use urban district in the heart of Uptown Dallas, embracing culture and change. West Village is committed to developing relationships within the local artist community with the goal of increasing public art in the district.
In October 2016, West Village commissioned a large-scale mural by Dallas artist Ricardo Paniagua, with an unveiling event on Friday, November 11, 6-9 pm. Paniagua plans to reveal the name of his mural, along with the inspiration behind it.
“The last four or five years, I’ve been making these fiberglass wall sculptures, and this mural is kind of a painting of my sculptural work in two dimensions,” Paniagua says. “It was total creative freedom.”
Planners at West Village envisioned a landmark to express their growing relationship with the Dallas artistic community. Paniagua’s latest work, which measures approximately 13 feet by 40 feet, celebrates the realization of that vision.
His artist’s statement explains his mural “attempts to resolve its identity as a color field painting, primarily its vast surface area reduced to a singularity of multitudinous diamonds sets precedent for color alone to achieve a kinetic opticality of trompe l’oeil qualities.”
Dallas native Paniagua is well known in the local art scene. Recurrent within his work are themes ranging from the pattern and decoration movement, op art, color field painting, and other incarnations of geometrical and/or geometric abstraction. With a rigorous work ethic and eye for detail that can be traced back to a lineage of master tile artisans, Paniagua is recognized for uniquely articulated craftsmanship in much of his work.
The unveiling event, held in Center Drive between Taco Diner and Malai Kitchen, is hosted by West Village style ambassador Alex Young of Eat Style Dallas. Expect tunes by DJ Christy Ray, sips and bites, and an interactive photo booth. Many will know Ray as the daughter of famed Salt-N-Pepa artist DJ Spinderella.
Official event partners are Bisous Bisous Pâtisserie, Brewed + Pressed, Buda Juice, Mi Cocina, Grimaldi’s Pizzeria, Nine Band Brewing, On the Rock Cocktails, Public School 214, and Sushi Zushi.
Visit the West Village website for event details and updates: westvillagedallas.com/mural
