Coinciding with the debut of New York Art Week, nomadic gallery homework launched their sophomore presentation on Thursday, May 5, at Ace Hotel New York. “Julián Chams: Traces and Visions” is homework’s first presentation dedicated to a single artist.

Born in Colombia, Brooklyn-based Chams’ presentation is a meditation on ruins, aftermaths, and stories gathered from the remnants of things long past. In painting, sculpture, and mixed media, he explores the ways that human beings connect with the natural and spiritual world, and the ways that those interactions may be rendered both familiar and uncanny by the distortions of time. Chams last presented work at homework’s group exhibition, “v00001,” during Miami Art Week 2021.

“The opening was amazing. We had a really great turn out. Lots of friends from NY showed up, along with a huge crowd of people that learned about us through our past show’s posts on social media and the press. They were excited to see our NY exhibition with Julián’s new work. — Aurelio Aguiló, homework co-founder

According to Aguiló, Chams and homework adapted the Ace Hotel gallery space to resemble a cave, with grey molded walls, soft lighting, and a digital collage of forest imagery. The subterranean mood served to enhance the mysterious allure of the artist’s work.

“The work in this exhibition is the culmination of a period of experimentation I have been going through for several years. After exploring different directions, I have arrived at a place where all the pieces have come together. At the same time it feels like a starting point, like I have just laid down the foundation upon which I can build the rest of my art practice.” — Julián Chams

“Julian Chams: Traces and Visions” is currently on view at Ace Hotel New York, 20 W 29th St. The show is part of homework’s “nyc residency” program, which will continue throughout the month of May. Upcoming programs at Ace Hotel include recess, a happy hour taking place every Saturday from 3 to 6 p.m. starting May 14, and the closing party for “Traces and Visions” on Thursday, May 26 from 6 to 9 p.m.

homework is also currently showing work from Mayte Nicole in Miami at The Knoxon, 7411 Biscayne Blvd. Nicole, whose work focuses on ink paintings on paper, was featured alongside Julian Chams in homework’s debut group show during Miami Art Week 2021.

See photos from the opening below. Credit: Cassie Zhang (@cassiezyz)

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