Meet Louis Angel | Artist/Curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Louis Angel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Louis, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
Creating is an immensely gratifying endeavor, whether it involves providing opportunities for artists to showcase their work in one of my shows or embarking on my own creative journey in the middle of the night. This satisfaction is particularly profound when artists are sharing their work with the world for the first time. Witnessing the emotional response of a creator as they unveil a very private part of themselves, all the while entrusting me with this task, is a truly euphoric experience.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My art is influenced by the great expressionist painter Jackson Pollock. I have borrowed from his technique of pouring and splashing paint onto a canvas, which has enabled me to create a body of work that expresses raw emotion, spirituality, and bottled-up memories through a tapestry of colors and textures. Vincent Van Gogh, Georgia O’Keeffe, and William Blake have also had a profound impact on my artistic career. Their influence is evident in my work, with characteristics like texture, flowers, and a complex relationship with religion woven into my pieces. Their hold on my subconscious is unmistakable, guiding me to infuse hidden imagery into every canvas I approach, unraveling the depths of my psyche. My achievements in the art community owe themselves to my curiosity, the support I’ve received, my openness to new experiences, and the willingness to take risks by exposing myself to the world. Art serves as a window to the soul, and creating art is a passionate act of birthing ideas. In the realm of business, the art world can be a challenging and demanding creature, requiring both patience and talent to navigate.

One of the most significant lessons I’ve learned as an artist is that no one will look out for you better than yourself. This realization gave birth to Guerrilla Art Shows. I wear many hats, both figuratively and literally, and my background in events and construction led me to produce, curate, install, and promote my own art shows. Without delving into too many specifics, I transformed half of an office floor into a pop-up art gallery (without permission) and even established a speakeasy-style wine bar in the reception area. The artists featured in the show were discovered through Facebook and Craigslist submissions. While no sales were made during that particular show, my passion for creating and helping others gain recognition in a world that can be challenging for creatives ignited a fire within me that continues to burn brightly to this day. Louis Angel & Guerrilla Art Shows exist for both the creative and the art lover alike.

That being said, I’ve had the privilege of featuring my work in several renowned establishments, including Empire Gallery in Soho, West Chelsea Contemporary Gallery, Black Wall Street Gallery, Blue Gallery, Triangle Loft Gallery, and Super Fine Art Fair in both New York City and Los Angeles. I’ve also been fortunate to receive minor mentions in Mann About Town’s Fall 2022 Issue, UP Magazine Issue #5, and BSceneZine Summer In the City Issue. Some of my notable curation projects include “Polychromatic,” a collaboration with Mr. John Wright at the Blue Gallery in 2021, “The Love of Art” at The Lofts at Price in 2021, “Rooftop Soirée: Under The Stars” at Citizens Bank Gallery in 2019, and “La Femme Idéale De La Société,” to name a few. My work has also been acquired by collectors in Israel,  Canada, Miami, New York and Los Angeles to name a few. 

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Our itinerary is packed with food, coffee, and art shows. A definite must is Jean-Georges on Central Park West. Some of my favorites include the Amuse Bouche, king crab, fig, and chocolate, which I highly recommend to kick off the week. We’ll also make sure to grab burgers and fries from the original Burger Joint hidden in the Thomson Central Park West Hotel (formerly Le Parker Méridien Hotel). For coffee, we can’t miss Parker’s (also located in the Thomson Central Park Hotel), Felix Roasting Company on Park Avenue, or Paquita in the West Village. At some point, we’ll indulge in bagels from Bagel Delight in Park Slope. And, without a doubt, we must try the Chicken Schnitzel at Dudley’s in the Lower East Side. The list goes on and on.

Visiting the MoMa and the MET will take a couple of days to fully explore, with a visit to one of my all-time favorite paintings, “The Starry Night” by Van Gogh, and Pollock’s “One: Number 31.1950.” Cocktails at Freemans in Freeman’s Alley and the Algonquin Hotel would be ideal. We also plan to enjoy live jazz at the Roxy Hotel in Tribeca after gallery hopping during the opening night downtown. The most fun, however, will likely come from discovering random places together in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Jackson Heights, Queens, or Little Italy in the Bronx. It seems like every block in the city has something interesting, inspiring, or even a bit dangerous happening, and that includes its inhabitants. No matter what, the city will leave us wanting more.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
It certainly takes a village to support and inspire a creative individual, dispelling any doubts the universe may place in their path. Yanil Tactuk was the initial stepping stone in my creative journey. We dated for about six years, and in 2009, she asked for a unique Christmas gift—a painting I had to create. Up to that point, I had no prior experience in creating art, let alone calling what I made “art.’” This marked the beginning of a hobby that took off when I met Kathy Horn, a publicist who believed in my potential. Kathy was the one who encouraged me to soar, even when I thought I could only crawl in the art world. She introduced me to collectors, gallerists, and other artists. Unfortunately, her presence in my life was cut short due to cancer, but I am forever grateful for her guidance and support. Zaferia Michalakeas, has been a crucial supporter, muse, inspiration and my rock the last couple of years. She’s believed in me since day one as a friend and partner, my last works have been a direct result of her love and encouragement through thick and thin.

The person who has evolved from being my contemporary into a part of my family is Melissa Schainker. Her talent is impeccable, and her spirit and heart have left a lasting impact on my growth as an artist, curator, and, most importantly, as a human being.

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Instagram: @guerrillaartshows

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/louis-angel-aa3b0619

Image Credits
Hideki Aono