La Peña presents “Spirits, Machines, and Simulacra” an exhibition of paintings by Dallas-based artist and art educator Juan J. Hernandez. The exhibit opens at La Peña Gallery on Friday, August 11th with a reception from 6-8 pm and runs through September 1st.

Juan J. Hernandez’s paintings reflect a fascination with metaphoric imagery and powerful iconography. His imaginative interpretations of the natural world and the human condition are influenced by his unique life experiences and are extended onto canvas through his classically trained and seasoned expertise. His works have been exhibited throughout the Southwest and are in private collections. Hernandez received his BFA degree from Southern Methodist University and is currently teaching art at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Dallas, Texas.

Hernandez says his mind is a melting pot of experiences and influences that shape the content of his work. Born in Mexico, he possesses a natural predisposition towards Latin-American and Spanish cultures and his list of artistic influences include Diego Rivera, Jose Clemente Orosco, Joan Miro, Salvador Dali, and most importantly Pablo Picasso. Those influences became a springboard from which his serious work began. While many people have told him his work has a certain Latin-American look to it and he could be labeled a Mexican-American artist, he believes that good artwork transcends time and place. His plan is to draw upon his influences and experiences and portray a poetic truth through a strong symbolic language made up of powerful imagery.