Vincent Castiglia

For Immediate Release:

Meta Gallery Presents: Sacrifices For The Sanguinary Age - New Works By Vincent Castiglia

September 3, 2010 - Meta Gallery is pleased to present Sacrifices For The Sanguinary Age, new works by Vincent Castiglia. In his first exhibition with the gallery as well as his first in Canada, Castiglia delivers his latest body of work with the same cunning skill and depth of visionary dimension for which he has become best known. Representing the dark and otherworldly realms of the human psyche, Castiglia’s work elucidates the fragility and innocence of life and is at the foreground of the contemporary visionary practice.

Drawing on a variety of inspiration, from mythical and metaphysical religious symbolism, to HR Giger, to many in the fantastic visionary tradition, Castiglia’s figurative surrealist works utilize iconography from various mystic traditions, occultism and witchcraft to create a vision of humanity as struggling, and eventually surrendering to, its own mortality. With the life/death/rebirth cycle as prominent themes in the artist’s works, a unified vision of a flawed yet redeemable mankind emerges. One whose hope lies in the strength garnered from the struggle itself.

The medium used to achieve these beautiful works further lends itself to the allegorical quality of the artist’s expression. Castiglia’s own blood is the sole substance used to create the wide tonal range found in these works. During this process, Castiglia’s paintings become a metaphor for his life and art, and visa versa, as he works to resolve his own impermanence and invites the viewer to contemplate the same within themselves.

Vincent Castiglia was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1982. After attending Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School the artist decided not to attend art school and instead focus on his painting full time. He is the first American artist to be given a solo exhibition of his works at the HR Giger Museum in Gruyere, Switzerland as well his art has been exhibited worldwide from New York to San Francisco, Hollywood to London. His work has been featured on television and in print as well as an entry in “The International Encyclopedia of Fantastic, Surrealistic, Symbolist and Visionary Artists.” He lives and works in NYC.

Sacrifices For The Sanguinary Age will be on view from September 10 to October 10, 2010. Gallery hours are Wednesday through Saturday from 12-6. The opening reception will be on Friday September 10 from 7-10pm. Artist in attendance.

Vincent will be giving an artist talk at the gallery on Saturday September 11 from 1-3pm.

Please email Jody Polishchuk at jp@metagallery.com to be put on the preview list for this exhibition or for further information.

Meta Gallery
124 Ossington Avenue
Toronto, Canada, M6J 2Z5

416 955 0500
www.metagallery.com