BELLA FIGURA by David Curcio
Bella Figura explores the evolution of masculinity in the 21st century, challenging traditional notions of manhood and examining the complexities of gender roles. The exhibition draws inspiration from outdated tropes of machismo and violence, while acknowledging the emergence of new ideals that embrace diversity and fluidity.
Through a series of embroidered images, printmaking, and installations, the artist deconstructs the archetypal "tough guy" persona. Boxers, criminals, and rodeo clowns are juxtaposed with moments of vulnerability and introspection, revealing the contradictions and complexities of male identity. The exhibition critiques the enduring power of these outdated stereotypes while acknowledging their gradual decline.
About the Artist
David Curcio received his MFA in Printmaking from Pratt Institute in 2001. He has taught printmaking at several colleges abroad and domestically, and currently teaches at Suffolk University. His work as a printmaker has been supplemented over the last fifteen years by an attraction to Outsider Art, the nature of which is wholly antithetical to printmaking's rigorous training, educational requirements, and science. His latest work turns its focus on themes of (largely antiquated) notions of masculinity, often through the traditional "feminine" medium of embroidery.