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Juan Carlos Castro 

Fuego Artificial 

Curated by Lurel Sparks

4 4 3 P AS May 8–June 8, 2012 

4 4 3 P A S is pleased to announce Fuego Artificial, an exhibition of mixed media works by Juan Carlos Castro. 

“Hailing from seemingly contradictory cultures of Fashion and Buddhism, Juan Carlos Castro’s studio practice 
explores the psychological realms of identity expression and drama. His photo collages, videos and assemblages 
range from sublime to abject as he dissects the relationship between artifice and the nature of mind.” 
—Laurel Sparks, curator 

A closer look at a wallpaper pattern reveals the ornate design to be comprised of miniature, overhead photographic 
self-portraits. At a distance, a large scale collage triptych composed of individually cut circles becomes an interlocking 
image of blood cells and stars. Other pieces range from velum-tiled digital scans of inside-out wigs and rolling 
marbles to actual synthetic hair and mixed media on wood panel. His video performance further explores the 
prevalent theme of circularity via spinning: the body in ritual movement and gender play—sequins, fire and a high-heel 
headstand—all captured from overhead by a rotating video camera. 

At once symbolic and physically visceral, Juan Carlos’ work is an ongoing meditation on the centerless structure 
of identity and the unstable nature of binary stystems in the sphere of representation. 

This is Juan Carlos Castro’s first solo show. He is the advertising Design Director at Vogue magazine and lives in 
Brooklyn, NY. Notable exhibitions, performances and collaborations include “Shapeshifters,” a group exhibition 
at 4 4 3 P A S in New York City in July 2011. He’s currently working on an ongoing collection of “feather wiglets” 
with and for Ana Matronic of the band Scissor Sisters, the first of which made its debut on the Monster Ball 
Tour with Lady Gaga, February 2011. In May 2009 he participated in the multimedia performance “Voice & Light 
Systems, Part Four: Auroville” produced by Nick Hallet at the New Museum in New York City. In October 2008 
he performed in a music video produced by English Kills for “Royal Windsor Coven,” featured on The Fly DVD 
magazine, “The Conscious Dreams” Issue. In September 2006 he exhibited a wall mural collage in the group 
show “All the Numbers I Know” at the Rotunda Gallery in Brooklyn. In September 2002 he collaborated in a 
group exhibit entitled “Funny, You Don’t Look It,” at The Gallery @ Green Street in Boston, MA. He studied 
Fine Arts at The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston (1992-1996) and Advertising Communications at 
Emerson College (1996-1998).