UH Hosts ‘Talking Color: Celebrating Carlos Cruz-Diez in Houston’

Artist’s Son Discusses Father’s Iconic Works on May 8

Carlos Cruz-Diez
Artist Carlos Cruz-Diez
Carlos Cruz-Diez Jr.
Carlos Cruz-Diez Jr., son of artist Carlos Cruz-Diez, is director of Atelier Cruz-Diez Paris.
Double Physichromie
"Double Physichromie" is part of the Public Art of the University of Houston collection and is currently undergoing an extensive conservation. It will return to a new location at the UH campus this summer.

Fans of Carlos Cruz-Diez, one of the great figures of kinetic-optic art, will have a chance to learn about his iconic works during a special event on Tuesday, May 8 at the University of Houston M.D. Anderson Library Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion.

“Talking Color: Celebrating Carlos Cruz-Diez in Houston” hosted by the Public Art of the University of Houston System and the Buffalo Bayou Partnership, features a conversation with the Venezuelan artist’s son, Carlitos Cruz-Diez, and Mari Carmen Ramirez, curator of Latin American Art and director of the International Center for the Arts of the Americas at the Museum of Fine Arts Houston.

Carlos Cruz-Diez Jr. will explore his father’s work over the past six decades including “Double Physichromie”, a vital piece in the Public Art of the UHS collection. The colorful, serpentine-like sculpture was his first public sculpture commission in the United States. It was originally installed near the University’s Welcome Center in 2009 and is currently undergoing an extensive conservation process. It will be re-sited this summer to a green space near the College of Technology and Graduate College of Social Work.

“‘Double Physichromie’ is being relocated to allow viewers an enhanced setting to experience the sculpture in a 360-degree space,” explained Emily Messa, associate vice chancellor for Administration at the University of Houston System and chair of the University of Houston System-wide Public Art Committee. “The new location will be fully and purposefully landscaped to allow viewers the full experience as intended by the artist.”

Following “Talking Color”, the Carlos Cruz-Diez series continues on Saturday, May 12 with a new commission opening to the public at the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.

WHAT: “Talking Color: Celebrating Carlos Cruz-Diez in Houston”

WHO: University of Houston and Public Art of the University of Houston System

WHEN: 6 p.m., Tuesday, May 8

WHERE: University of Houston M.D. Anderson Library Elizabeth D. Rockwell Pavilion, 4333 University Drive, Houston, TX 77204

PARKING: Event parking is available in the UH Welcome Center parking garage. Click here for a map.

Admission is free. Click here to RSVP and learn more information about the event.