No identity is safe with painter Stanley Bermúdez. In the portraits of Retratos y Banderas, the Venezuela-raised artist uses vertical lines and bold, unblended colors to depict historical figures and family members, offering them new life in an alternate pop art universe. Fidel Castro is no longer a fatigue-wearing revolutionary his smiling, sherbet-tinged visage is that of a sun-drenched old man offering to buy you a beer at a seaside dive bar. Simón Bolivar looks more like a dandy than a freedom fighter, and the portraits of the child Reinaldo Arenas and of George W. Bush reveal similarly weary expressions, though the kids eyes seem to sparkle with a bit more wisdom. The exhibit also features Bermúdez giving flags the same treatment as his vibrant portraits, combining the symbols of different countries to forge new meanings. Retratos y Banderas opens today; a reception with the artist follows in late May. Regular viewing hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. Through June 12. Talento Bilingüe de Houston, 333 South Jensen. For information, call 713-222-1213 or visit www.tbhcenter.com. Free.
Mondays-Fridays, 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Starts: April 14. Continues through June 12, 2009
This article appears in Apr 9-15, 2009.