Artist Look Out! Richard Herrera

by Mery Diaz

The New York City art culture has long been thought of as nestled in the hopping scenes of the Village, Soho, or Midtown. Very few look beyond these areas for more. Well, that’s too bad, because they’re missing a new neighborhood on the scene. The place is Washington Heights, a hub of local art, the what’s-been-missing from the more cliquish and members-only galleries of downtown areas. A community that has long been bubbling with an unrecognized artist culture tucked away since who knows when, and with much to offer.

This vibrant neighborhood has sprung the likes of artists like Richard Herrera. A local of this historic region of NYC, Herrera is our everyday renaissance man. A graphic designer by day, at night he dabbles in all mediums of the visual arts and music. Some of his most stunning work is captured in his use of photography (mostly self-taught). From his candid and honest portraitures to the obscure realisms of New York City’s nooks and crannies, Herrera engages his audience. Through his bold use of colors, light and darks, and unorthodox angles, the artist brings new insight into things we constantly encounter in our everyday lives. A birthday party with all its fast, loud and colorful moments can be shown to have poignant snapshots of silence and depth.

Keep a lookout for this artist. He will continue to entice thought and emotion through powerful images and the fusing of his interests. He also intends to open up his own Media Shop. Besides collaborating with the grassroots Washington Heights Community Arts Project, Herrera’s work has also been used in the Latest WHCAP video produced by Brownscape. You can also view Herrera’s work at the following sites:

http://richardherrera.zenfolio.com/
http://www.kromalab.net/