Percentage of Proceeds to benefit Duke Nelson Memorial Scholarship

Cavalier Galleries hosted an intimate private preview of Kadir Lopez Nieves’ new Signs series at Cavalier Galleries on Wednesday, February 24^th.   Beloved by serious Palm Beach art collectors and celebrities alike, KADIR LOPEZ NIEVES, returned to Palm Beach after more than 15 years.  The solo exhibit will continue through March 7^th.  Once the solo show ends, Lopez Nieves’s works will be available for viewing at Cavalier Galleries’ Worth Avenue location as well as their Manhattan, Greenwich and Nantucket spaces.

Distinguished guests and collectors attending the private preview included Jane Holzer (a.k.a. Baby Jane Holzer); Henry Buhl, Carlos Morrison, Tommy Morrison, Mathieu Rosinsky, Kim Charlton, Scott Snyder and Michael Witmer.

“My family owned Minimax supermarkets in Cuba before the revolution, so you can imagine how excited I was to find out Kadir salvaged a sign,” said Jane Holzer. “I immediately commissioned him to produce a special piece for me.”

“Kadir López is one of the most original artists working today, from embracing his Cuban heritage to his extraordinary use of historic figures in novel, artistic mediums,” says gallery owner Ron Cavalier.

Presidents, Kings, Entrepreneurs and Celebrities can’t get enough of Kadir. His collectors include Colombian singer Juanes, actor Will Smith, first lady Michelle Obama, Moroccan King Mohammed VI, entertainer Vanessa Williams, and TV star Jennifer Finnigan.

López’ “Signs” collections displayed at Cavalier Galleries’ South County Road location, include Wanted, Gangster Corporation and Grand Prix. The works are made of reclimed corporate and government placards from around the globe carefully curated by López and turned into a historical tableau for commemorating icons and their moment in time. For example, in his Wanted pieces, Kadir transposes black and white historical photographs of famed outlaws onto the signs and then–using a proprietary method– creates a third paint layer. The effect is almost three dimensional. “The protagonists in Wanted blur the line of fame and infamy,” says López. “When does an outlaw become a celebrity?”

Along with his “Signs” collections, López also brings to Palm Beach his latest, larger than life Monopoly board with neon game pieces, “Havana Noir.” As well as three, cheeky, giant Rubik’s cubes, throwback brain puzzles deftly suspended in the air. Instead of primary color stickers on their squares, one cube features Democratic Presidents, another Republican Presidents and on the third, the faces of notorious gangsters. Parallels are open to interpretation.

“His work is seductive and captivating on the surface, but thought provoking as one digs deeper,” says Cavalier. “We are honored to represent this work and genius.” The buzz is building to a crescendo as a new crop of collectors and regulars clamor for a piece of the artist’s point of view. “His work is bringing such excitement to town,” says local art collector, Kassi Lowenstein. “His presence here is already electrifying this small town.” It must be a sign.