based caracas / paris
working 1995 →
site v.03 / selected
artistartista working between materialstrabajando entre materiales
Crisálida, performance, 2017 ·video by Julio Osorio ·edited by Paloma López ·from Escape Room, Espacio Monitor, Caracas
scroll desplazar
statement declaración

I'm based between Paris and Caracas. I work with plastic, textile, and discarded materials — found, sorted, transformed into tapestries, sculptures, installations, garments, and performances. My practice moves between the street and the body.

Vivo y trabajo entre París y Caracas. Mi obra parte del plástico, el tejido y los materiales desechados —recogidos, ordenados, transformados en tapices, esculturas, instalaciones, prendas y performances. Mi práctica se mueve entre la calle y el cuerpo.

Ana, performance by Jennifer Conrad
Ana, activated by Jennifer Conrad. The Unknown and Its Poetics, curated by Adrian Bara, KinoSaito Art Center, 2025activada por Jennifer Conrad. The Unknown and Its Poetics, curada por Adrian Bara, KinoSaito Art Center, 2025
01 / 04 series serie 2014 →

ponchos / ana / the unknown and its poetics

ponchos / ana / the unknown and its poetics
ana / pepelopezreus ↗ ana / kinosaito ↗ ponchos paris ↗
Ana, sculptural object
Ana, recovered plastics and knit. The Unknown and Its Poetics, curated by Adrian Bara, KinoSaito Art Center, 2025plásticos recuperados y tejido. The Unknown and Its Poetics, curada por Adrian Bara, KinoSaito Art Center, 2025
Anna, with Hana Thompson · KinoSaito, Verplanck, NY, 2025 · tap for soundcon Hana Thompson · KinoSaito, Verplanck, NY, 2025 · toca para sonido

Ana is part of my ongoing Ponchos series. The piece is constructed from seven white Carrefour delivery bags sourced in Paris — transformed from everyday plastic into a translucent shell, its top end embroidered in shades of white, gray, and black which provides a stark, tactile contrast, a labor-intensive, intimate gesture against industrial materiality.

When worn, Ana fully envelops the body. Arms and hands disappear beneath its surface. It evokes the formality of a wedding gown while simultaneously suggesting a shroud. Yet, under shifting light, the body inside flickers into view, suspended between presence and absence. This ephemeral tension — the fragile balance between concealment and revelation — is central to the work's emotional charge.

Suspended on the wall, Ana transforms into sculpture. Drifting as solidified material, it becomes a blooming flower, an open shell, a virginal vulva — simultaneously vulnerable and resilient. It stands at the intersection of softness and structure. It is an offering.

This piece carries the weight of existing between languages, systems, and spaces of belonging. It does not tell a grand narrative but communicates through subtle gestures — through materials, silences, and the shifting contours of a body both visible and withheld. In performance, Ana has functioned as both screen and veil, inviting play, concealment, and emergence.

This exhibition presents a group of works by international artists that live or have lived away from their home country and have been impacted by cross-cultural influences. Artists whose abstract work engages experiences and identities related to the unknown and the construction of home. KinoSaito Art Center provides more than a venue — it creates a vital context. A space where experimentation, beauty, and social urgency converge. In a time marked by division and displacement, KinoSaito affirms art's power to transform not only space but the ways we inhabit it. Many thanks for the invitation.

Ana forma parte de mi serie en curso Ponchos. La pieza está construida con siete bolsas blancas de reparto de Carrefour conseguidas en París — transformadas de plástico cotidiano en una capa translúcida, cuyo extremo superior está bordado en tonos de blanco, gris y negro, proporcionando un contraste táctil y austero, un gesto laborioso e íntimo frente a la materialidad industrial.

Cuando se lleva puesta, Ana envuelve completamente el cuerpo. Los brazos y las manos desaparecen bajo su superficie. Evoca la formalidad de un vestido de novia y al mismo tiempo sugiere un sudario. Sin embargo, bajo una luz cambiante, el cuerpo que hay dentro parpadea a la vista, suspendido entre la presencia y la ausencia. Esta tensión efímera — el frágil equilibrio entre ocultamiento y revelación — es central en la carga emocional de la obra.

Suspendida en la pared, Ana se transforma en escultura. A la deriva como material solidificado, se convierte en una flor en flor, una concha abierta, una vulva virginal — simultáneamente vulnerable y resistente. Se sitúa en la intersección de la suavidad y la estructura. Es una ofrenda.

Esta pieza lleva el peso de existir entre lenguas, sistemas y espacios de pertenencia. No narra una gran historia, sino que comunica a través de gestos sutiles — a través de materiales, silencios y los contornos cambiantes de un cuerpo a la vez visible y retenido. En la performance, Ana ha funcionado como pantalla y velo, invitando al juego, al ocultamiento y a la emergencia.

Esta exposición presenta un grupo de obras de artistas internacionales que viven o han vivido fuera de su país de origen y han sido influenciados por influencias interculturales. Artistas cuya obra abstracta aborda experiencias e identidades relacionadas con lo desconocido y la construcción del hogar. KinoSaito Art Center ofrece más que un espacio — crea un contexto vital. Un lugar donde convergen la experimentación, la belleza y la urgencia social. En un tiempo marcado por la división y el desplazamiento, KinoSaito afirma el poder del arte para transformar no solo el espacio sino las formas en que lo habitamos. Muchas gracias por la invitación.

Ana, installation view at KinoSaito Art Center, 2025
Ana, activated by Jennifer Conrad. Installation view, The Unknown and Its Poetics, curated by Adrian Bara, KinoSaito Art Center, 2025activada por Jennifer Conrad. Vista de instalación, The Unknown and Its Poetics, curada por Adrian Bara, KinoSaito Art Center, 2025
02 / 04 series serie 2005 →

plastic collages

collages de plástico
root/route / dot fiftyone ↗ root/route / pepelopezreus ↗

I collect plastic from the streets — bags, wrappings, anything I find. I sort it, compose it, stitch it. Each one is a layer of a place, of a moment. A voluntary archaeological archive of my time.

Recojo plástico de las calles — bolsas, envoltorios, lo que encuentro. Lo organizo, lo compongo, lo coso. Cada pieza es una capa de un lugar, de un momento. Un archivo arqueológico voluntario de mi tiempo.

Root/Route, installation view, Dot Fiftyone Gallery, Miami, 2018
Root/Route, installation view, Dot Fiftyone Gallery, Miami, 2018. Curated by Tamara Chalabivista de instalación, Dot Fiftyone Gallery, Miami, 2018. Curada por Tamara Chalabi
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018collage de plástico sobre papel, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018collage de plástico sobre papel, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018collage de plástico sobre papel, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018collage de plástico sobre papel, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018collage de plástico sobre papel, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018collage de plástico sobre papel, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018collage de plástico sobre papel, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018
Root/Route, plastic collage on paper, 2018collage de plástico sobre papel, 2018
03 / 04 body of work cuerpo de obra 2010 →

Plastic as matter and as condition. Sculpture, installation, collage. Scroll →

El plástico como materia y como condición. Escultura, instalación, collage. Desplazar →

Háblame, blue striped plastic installation, Espacio Monitor, 2016
Háblame, ironed striped plastic bags, 4 × 14 m. Contra la pared, curated by Miguel Miguel Garcia, Espacio Monitor, Caracas, 2016bolsas plásticas a rayas planchadas, 4 × 14 m. Contra la pared, curada por Miguel Miguel Garcia, Espacio Monitor, Caracas, 2016
Háblame, installation in progress, Espacio Monitor, 2016
Háblame, installation in progress, Espacio Monitor, 2016durante el montaje, Espacio Monitor, 2016
Háblame, blue and green sections together, Espacio Monitor, 2016
Háblame, installation view, blue and green sections, Espacio Monitor, 2016vista de instalación, secciones azul y verde, Espacio Monitor, 2016
Háblame, installation view in context, Espacio Monitor, 2016
Háblame, installation view, Contra la pared, Espacio Monitor, Caracas, 2016vista de instalación, Contra la pared, Espacio Monitor, Caracas, 2016
Háblame, surface detail with red-stitched openings
Háblame, surface detaildetalle de superficie
Plastic Works, photo: Julio Osoriofoto: Julio Osorio
Plastic Works, photo: Julio Osoriofoto: Julio Osorio
Plastic Works, photo: Julio Osoriofoto: Julio Osorio
Plastic Works, photo: Julio Osoriofoto: Julio Osorio
Plastic Works, photo: Julio Osoriofoto: Julio Osorio
Plastic Works, photo: Julio Osoriofoto: Julio Osorio
Plastic Works, photo: Julio Osoriofoto: Julio Osorio
Plastic Works, photo: Julio Osoriofoto: Julio Osorio
Plastic Works, photo: Julio Osoriofoto: Julio Osorio
Plastic Works, photo: Julio Osoriofoto: Julio Osorio
Plastic Works, photo: Julio Osoriofoto: Julio Osorio
Plastic Works, photo: Julio Osoriofoto: Julio Osorio
Plastic Works, photo: Julio Osoriofoto: Julio Osorio
drag or scroll horizontally arrastrar o desplazar horizontalmente
04 / 04 installation instalación 2018

Two hundred objects from my family home in Caracas, wrapped one by one in transparent plastic and suspended in an eighteen-metre installation.

Doscientos objetos de mi casa familiar en Caracas, envueltos uno por uno en plástico transparente y suspendidos en una instalación de dieciocho metros.

"Crisálida is not just about him. One encounters a gap — the shape of an absence felt individually and collectively — and an invitation: a hand reaching out to bring spectators, and their memories, into the chrysalis. The installation is about the decisions anybody who has to leave their country has to make: regarding the loved, hated, borrowed, forgotten, ordinary, special, useful, and useless things that create the material world where we build ourselves an identity and a home."

— Irina Troconis, Latin American and Latinx Visual Culture, University of California Press, 2025
Crisálida, wide installation view, Fitzrovia Chapel, 2018
Crisálida, installation and performance, 2018. Fitzrovia Chapel, London. Ruya Maps Foundation. Curated by Tamara Chalabiinstalación y performance, 2018. Fitzrovia Chapel, Londres. Ruya Maps Foundation. Curada por Tamara Chalabi
Crisálida, wrapped figurine on marble shelf
Crisálida, detaildetalle
Crisálida, performance, Pepe wrapped
Crisálida, performance, 2018performance, 2018
Crisálida, wrapped bicycle and objects on marble shelf
Crisálida, detaildetalle
Crisálida, wrapped objects, painted bust detail
Crisálida, wrapped objects, detailobjetos envueltos, detalle
drag or scroll horizontally arrastrar o desplazar horizontalmente
moving image imagen en movimiento

video / performance / kinosaito video / performance / kinosaito
ponchos / kinosaito ↗ instagram ↗

Itoh with Ryhuji Itoh · KinoSaito, Verplanck, NY, 2025con Ryhuji Itoh · KinoSaito, Verplanck, NY, 2025
Jane with Jane Rigler · KinoSaito, Verplanck, NY, 2025con Jane Rigler · KinoSaito, Verplanck, NY, 2025
Tahina Tahina Larot with Poncho TBB-25 · KinoSaito, Verplanck, NY, 2025Tahina Larot con Poncho TBB-25 · KinoSaito, Verplanck, NY, 2025
forthcoming
monograph / 2026—27 monografía / 2026—27

fantastic plastic: a monograph

A monograph dedicated to the Plastics body of work, published by KinoSaito (Verplanck, NY).

Una monografía dedicada al cuerpo de obra Plásticos, publicada por KinoSaito (Verplanck, NY).

editoreditorkinosaito · mikiko ino
interviewentrevistatamara chalabi
essaystextosjoshua cohen, mikiko ino, sarah strauss
pub.2026 / 2027
Fantastic Plastic — book cover
Fantastic Plastic, pages 14–15, Gasworks series
pp. 14–15 — Plastic Collages, 1998. Gasworks Studios, LondonCollages de plástico, 1998. Gasworks Studios, Londres
Fantastic Plastic, pages 16–17, Plastic Bags Atlas
pp. 16–17 — The Plastic Bags Atlas Series, ParisLa serie Atlas de bolsas de plástico, París
Fantastic Plastic, pages 40–41, White Apocalypse
pp. 40–41 — White Apocalypse, performance, Island of Patmos, Greece, 2015White Apocalypse, performance, isla de Patmos, Grecia, 2015
Fantastic Plastic, pages 126–127, Santa Maria Benz with Poncho TAPPBS-22
pp. 126–127 — Santa Maria Benz with Poncho TAPPBS-22, Pepe López Studio, ParisSanta Maria Benz con Poncho TAPPBS-22, estudio Pepe López, París
selected selección

selected selección

solo exhibitions exposiciones individuales

  • 2025Guapísimas, Dot Fiftyone Gallery, MiamiGuapísimas, Dot Fiftyone Gallery, Miami
  • 2023Bandwō, Dot Fiftyone Gallery, MiamiBandwō, Dot Fiftyone Gallery, Miami
  • 2021Knots and Paradoxes, Carmen Araujo Arte, CaracasKnots and Paradoxes, Carmen Araujo Arte, Caracas
  • 2018Crisálida, Ruya Maps Foundation, Fitzrovia Chapel, LondonCrisálida, Ruya Maps Foundation, Fitzrovia Chapel, Londres
  • 2018Root/Route, Dot Fiftyone Gallery, MiamiRoot/Route, Dot Fiftyone Gallery, Miami
  • 2017Escape Room, Espacio Monitor, CaracasEscape Room, Espacio Monitor, Caracas

selected group / recognition colectivas / reconocimientos

  • 2025The Unknown and its Poetics, KinoSaito, NYThe Unknown and its Poetics, KinoSaito, NY
  • 2025KinoSaito Residency, Upstate New YorkResidencia KinoSaito, Nueva York
  • 2024El Espacio 23, Jorge Pérez Collection, MiamiEl Espacio 23, Colección Jorge Pérez, Miami
  • 2022Labor and Materials, 21C Museum, Kansas CityLabor and Materials, 21C Museum, Kansas City
  • 2019Bearers of Meaning, Cisneros Collection, Amparo Museum, MexicoPortadores de sentido, Colección Cisneros, Museo Amparo, México
  • 2015New Territories, MAD Museum, New YorkNew Territories, MAD Museum, Nueva York
  • 20038th Havana Biennial8.ª Bienal de La Habana
  • 2017Best Solo Show, AICA VenezuelaMejor exposición individual, AICA Venezuela
  • 2015Best Young Artist, AICA VenezuelaMejor artista joven, AICA Venezuela
  • 1998UNESCO–Aschberg Artist Residency, LondonResidencia UNESCO–Aschberg, Londres

full cv on request → cv completo bajo solicitud →

contact contacto
studio · paris · caracas

this site presents a selection. for the full archive — twenty-two series, two decades of work — visit pepelopezreus.com este sitio presenta una selección. para acceder al archivo completo — veintidós series, dos décadas de obra — visitar pepelopezreus.com