Emmanuel Gonzales
Emmanuel Gonzales has had a strong presence in the South Florida art scene since his graduation from Palm Beach Atlantic College in 2001. He has a bold and edgy style fusing together collage, pencil, pastel, watercolor, and oils to create movement and energy. The resulting pieces are a balance of strong imagery and intimacy, achieved with an attention to subtleties often refined through detailed work. His body of art explores the past and present through realism and portraiture, and includes a growing retrospective of American icons where each piece is presented as a fragment in a larger American patchwork.
“The subjects in the artwork represent the social climate of a specific historical moment, influencing certain ethnic or social groups. Some images are meant to be unfamiliar to those outside a specific group, reinforcing the identity of one part of society while highlighting a sense of “otherness” for outsiders. Different social circles may emotionally connect with these images differently, fostering varying experiences for viewers. Overall, the aim of the artwork is to provoke viewers to contemplate their individual role within a broader societal context by juxtaposing different identities.”