James Vazquez "Still Holding"

James Vazquez "Still Holding" 2026

Painting, Oil on Canvas
Dimensions: 24 x 30 inches
Unique
Signed on Recto

James Vazquez "J. Richard" is a contemporary artist born in the Bronx, New York. Inspired by Cubism and contemporary culture, his paintings use bold color, geometric forms, and simplified figures to explore identity, emotion, and human connection. Richard reinterprets familiar figures and everyday moments from different perspectives. Through abstraction, fragmented forms, and symbolism, he creates paintings that balance structure with emotion, leaving space for viewers to bring their own experiences and interpretations to the work.

Artist Statement:

"My work comes from the things I see, feel, and experience around me. I’m drawn to familiar images and moments, and I like finding ways to see them from a different perspective. Painting gives me a way to explore emotions and ideas that aren’t always easy to put into words.

Drawing from Cubism, I simplify and break apart figures and forms through geometric shapes, color, and composition. I’m not interested in perfectly representing a subject. I’m more interested in what exists beneath the surface—the emotion, tension, vulnerability, or connection that can make an image feel personal.

I find inspiration in everyday life, fashion, contemporary culture, and art history. Sometimes those influences are obvious in the work, and other times they appear in unexpected ways. I like bringing different references together and allowing the meaning of a painting to develop naturally rather than deciding exactly what it should mean.

I want people to have their own experience with my work. If someone sees something in a painting that connects to a memory, feeling, or experience of their own, then the painting has taken on a life beyond what I originally brought to it." - James Vazquez