Michael Villarreal
My work is realized through the objects that occupy my dreams
and memories. The secondhand object was an important part
of my upbringing. Household items and anything else that was
a necessity to live comfortably was brought home by my father,
who used to rummage in the storage units that were abandoned
at the U-Haul where he works. I take materials that are common
in the construction of houses, such as pink insulation foam, joint
compound, and paint, and configure these materials on a wooden
structure to give the work material integrity. The surface of the
work mimics an industrial finish; saturated hues or smooth
surfaces create a visceral response to objects such as a bunk
bed or window blind. Quirky, bulbous shapes and an animated
sensibility transform the narrative of an object, but visually keep
its familiarity.