This exhibit is FREE to the public and will be on display during library hours Monday--Friday 9 am-6 pm, starting Friday, March 21, 2025, through Friday, April 11, 2025.
Marcus Vasquez's Specimens
Artist Statement
For several years now, I’ve been interested in using unorthodox materials in my work. During this time, I have worked on repurposing different scrap or throw-away items. Inspired by Ruby Silvious, I began experimenting with used tea bags as a painting surface.
In this series, the subject matter includes a variety of insects, plants, and fish. I use watercolor to capture the nuances of these subjects in an intimate way. Some of the paintings are close to the real-life scale, while with others, I take some liberties to enhance the visual experience. The insects especially are reminiscent of collections in a display case. Similar to these preserved items, the tea bags are fragile and need to be handled carefully. Each tea bag has a unique background which is left mostly unobstructed, along with any imperfections. I leave the tea bags untreated, letting the paper and artwork take their natural course over time. Both the subject matter and material could be considered mundane, but in this way, the ordinary becomes a little more extraordinary.
About Marcus Vasquez
Marcus Vasquez is a native of North Little Rock. He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a BFA in painting. Since then, Marcus has participated in numerous group and solo exhibitions. Most recently he had work displayed at the Crystal Bridges Community Gallery and taught an evening workshop there. While watercolor paintings have been his main focus, Marcus strives to experiment with different creative outlets and learn how to use a variety of mediums. As a result, he has completed several public and private murals in central Arkansas and continues to develop as an artist.
This is the secondary branch of the William F. Laman Public Library located in the heart of the Argenta Arts District of North Little Rock.
