Telling Stories Even in Our Dreams

NIAD Main Gallery

organized by Liz Hernández

October 12 - November 15, 2024

About the Exhibition

Storytelling has been a constant in human history. When we share a story with others, it breathes life into a room, filling it with dialogue and mysterious beings. It can also be a way to combat today's heaviness, transporting us to other places and timelines, whether real or imagined. Heather Hamann and Michael Nuñez are two artists deeply engaged in the art of storytelling. Rather than depicting an accurate reflection of reality, they reimagine the world through their unique visual language. 

Hamann's work is imbued with an enchanting stillness. She crafts stages, costumes, and props that invite us to become part of her narrative. In her paintings and ceramics, we wish to shrink down and explore her landscapes, enter the castle, or wear a princess dress. 

Nuñez, on the other hand, makes us spectators in his dynamic and carefully composed scenes. His subject matter varies widely but is often rooted in urban legends, myths, and folklore across different cultures. Through works on paper and sculpture, he creates pieces full of action, making us feel like we are watching a movie unfold. 

The works in this exhibition function like a book, where we cease to exist in the everyday world and become part of a shared illusion. 

About the Artists

Heather Hamann and Michael Nuñez are two artists deeply engaged in the art of storytelling. Rather than depicting an accurate reflection of reality, they reimagine the world through their unique visual language.

About the Organizer

Liz Hernández (b. 1993, Mexico City, Mexico) is a multidisciplinary artist whose work blurs the boundaries between reality and fiction through painting, sculpture, embroidery, and writing. Deeply influenced by Mexican craft techniques, her work explores the rich language of materials, drawing inspiration from literature, anthropology, syncretism, and cultural traditions. Hernández has exhibited nationally and internationally. Her work is part of the permanent collections at KADIST (SF), the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art, and the de Young Museum.