Alto Beta is pleased to present Your Recurring Dream, a debut solo exhibition of paintings by Nico Hernandez. 

This body of work is about the physical experience of viewing. The paintings are explorations into retinal persistence, the optical phenomenon where the eye continues to briefly see an image after it has disappeared from view, and color fatigue, where the eye’s color receptors are overstimulated and cause the surface to vibrate. The bright colors and repetition of lines and patterns are meant to allow the viewer to have an active experience in receiving the work rather than passive consumption. 

The focus on color, serial geometric forms and sculptural elements are inspired by the Op Art Movement, significant in providing a framework from which the artist can contribute their perspective and meditations on presence that guide each painting from conception to execution. With variable dimension and orientation, the works can be grouped together to form new modular configurations that can be viewed individually or as long chains of intersecting colors. Each new construction is an opportunity for both artist and viewer to strip away distractions and focus on each painted line rather than an endless stream of memories, dreams, and noise that occupies the mind. 

Nico Hernandez (b. 1992, Simi Valley, CA) worked as a printmaker at Cirrus Editions Ltd. before co-founding Aliso Editions in 2019, publishing fine art prints and multiples with artists in Los Angeles and New York through 2023. He lives and works in Los Angeles, CA