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Paul Henry Ramirez
Paul Henry Ramirez (1963–) is a contemporary American artist, born in El Paso, Texas, currently residing in the greater New York metropolitan area. In 2010, Ramirez coined the term biogeomorphic abstraction1 to describe his own bold painting style, a fusion of biomorphic and geometric forms. Donald Kuspit, scholar and art critic, describes Ramirez as “an important new kind of abstract painter. . . an abstractionist playing with color and form to exciting imaginative effect.”2

Work
Ramirez began creating site-specific installations in 1994 in New York City, combining drawings, paintings, objects, sculpture, music, dance, and furniture in dialogue with architectural space and architectural elements. Ramirez creates a total environment, inviting viewers to experience in addition to observe, to feel as if “they are coming into the belly of a painting”3 as they enter his world — his installation. These were first featured in New York City’s alternative exhibition spaces: the Drawing Center (1994), Clock Tower Gallery (1995) and Franklin Furnace (1995). For such installations, Ramirez often collaborates with sound designers, dance choreographers, costume designers, and furniture designers. His first such exhibition was “Real Pretty Simple Innocent Paintings” at Caren Golden Fine Art, New York, in 1998.

Career
Ramirez moved from his native Texas to New Jersey in 1985, then moved to New York City a few years later to work for Henri Bendel, and later for Charivari, and Takashimaya, designing window and interior displays. He set up a studio in the Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY in 1994. As a result of critical acclaim and increasing commercial success, he was able to continue as a full time, self supporting artist. In 2008, Ramirez moved his studio to the Motor Exhibit Building at the Grounds For Sculpture, Hamilton, NJ.

Exhibitions and Collections
Paul Henry Ramirez has exhibited throughout the United States and Europe since 1982, including at Museo de Arte de Ciudad Juárez (1982), Austin Museum (1997), Brooklyn Museum of Art (1997), Bronx Museum of Art (1997), Aldrich Museum (1998), Corcoran Gallery of Art (2000), Museo del Barrio (2000), Cincinnati Museum of Art (2001), Whitney Museum of American (2002), Newark Museum (2011), Museo de Arte de Ponce (2012), and Smithsonian American Art Museum (2013).

His work can be found in the permanent collections of, among others, the Austin Museum of Art, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Crocker Art Museum, El Paso Museum of Art, Hammer Museum, Hirshhorn Museum, Kresge Art Museum, Newark Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum, Tarble Arts Center, The Hyde Collection, and Whitney Museum of American Art.

SOLO MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS
2010. “Blackout: A Centennial Commission,” Newark Museum; curated by Evelyn Carmen Ramos; brochure.

2004. “Seriously Playful: Paul Henry Ramirez, 1995-2004”, Stanlee and Gerald Rubin Gallery, curated by Kate Bonansiga, University of Texas, El Paso; catalog.

2002–2003. “Elevatious Transcendsualistic,” Tang Teaching Museum, curated by Ian Berry, Saratoga Springs, New York; catalog. 2002. Space Addiction, Whitney Museum of American Art at Philip Morris; curated by Shamim M. Momin, New York, New York; brochure.

2001. “Elevatious Transcendsualistic,” Contemporary Arts Center, curated by Sue Spaid, Cincinnati, Ohio.

1982. “Golden Girls,” Museo de Arte de Ciudad Juárez, curated by Arq. José Diego Lizárraga,Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, Mexico.