Eliezer Parrilla was born in Spanish Harlem, New York City in 1950. While waiting in a barber shop at the age of 9, he happened upon a recent issue of Life Magazine featuring Jackson Pollock. After absorbing the article in its entirety, his percolating interest in art was compounded. In February of 1963, at the age of 12, he made an inspired solo pilgrimage to Fifth Avenue to catch his first bus to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Although he missed his stop and had to back-track, upon finally reaching his destination, he was able to behold the Mona Lisa on its historic one-time loan from the Louvre to the United States. This momentous experience began a lifelong fascination with the potential timelessness, breadth, and depth of artistic expression.
Shortly thereafter, Parrilla’s family moved back to their native Puerto Rico, where he remained throughout his teenage years. In 1970, he returned to New York, transferring from the University of Puerto Rico to Brooklyn College to complete his degree in Bilingual Education. He subsequently studied Architecture at New York’s Pratt Institute, where he contacted and was influenced by such luminaries as Barbara Neski, William Katavolos, and Haresh Lalvani. Most importantly, it was during this period that Parrilla solidified his artistic priority in painting.
Parrilla painted prolifically while working toward his two Master’s degrees in Bilingual Education/Administration from Long Island University, and throughout his entire 30+ years working in education. His career included teaching architectural design at the elementary through high school levels, as well as directing administrative and grant writing programs for bilingual education departments in the Bronx and Brooklyn. During this time, he exhibited at several museums in Puerto Rico and at the World War II Memorial at Brooklyn’s Cadman Plaza. One of his pieces from this time period has also been included in the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art.
Eliezer Parrilla relocated to the Hudson Valley in 2008 and since then has continued his extensive creative production, amassing an extraordinary collection of artistic work. This includes not only paintings, drawings, photography, and musical recordings, but also wood reliefs, bronze sculptures, and various experimental mixed media pieces. Many of these works were created using standard and industrial carpentry tools. Parrilla has also performed in multiple Hudson Valley venues as a singer, guitarist, and percussionist. His recent Hudson Valley art exhibitions have included solo shows at The Falcon, The Storefront Gallery, and The ArtBar Gallery, as well as inclusions at the Woodstock Artists Association Museum (WAAM).
Eliezer Parrilla’s work is noted for its diversity over decades, its unfettered experimentalism, its marrying of intense abstract artistry with scientific-like precision and process, and for visually incorporating Jungian archetypes into modern cultural and political themes.
In the artist’s words, “None of the art pieces are planned. I usually begin with something in my hands. Part of the work may stay around taking dust until it calls again. Except for the canvases, I try to work with what I find and what I have around me. Art itself should be timeless. The work should not depend solely on one’s epoch to be appreciated. It should reflect its modernity because the artist has absorbed and critiqued his time, and yet it should be able to touch the future: its possibilities, wonders and hopes.”
Solo Exhibitions
“Thoughtography,” Live at The Falcon Art Gallery, Marlboro, NY, 2018
“Eliezer Parrilla: Solo Exhibition,” The Storefront Gallery, Kingston, NY, 2017
“Eliezer Parrilla: Solo Exhibition,” ArtBar Gallery, Kingston, NY, 2016
“Parrilla en el Sur,” SUR, Brooklyn, NY, 2006-2007
“Process and Continuity,” Musician’s General Store, Brooklyn, NY, 2001-2002
“School of the Americas,” The Fall Cafe, Brooklyn, NY, 1996
“Coming Soon: An Exhibition of Artwork by Eliezer Parrilla,” The Living Room, Brooklyn, NY, 1995
“Visiones, Mensajes y Misiones,” Museo Historico de Bayamon, Fransisco Oller, Bayamon, Puerto Rico, 1993
“De lo Cotidiano a lo Mitico,” Museo Historico de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico, 1992
“The Art of Eliezer Parrilla,” Belanthi Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 1992
“Visiones y Simbolos: Del Vientre a la Tumba,” Ollantay Gallery, Brooklyn, NY, 1991
“Suenos y Visiones,” Convencion de Educadores Bilingues, New York Hilton, New York, NY, 1987
“Eliezer Parrilla,” Morivivi Gallery, New York, NY, 1983
Group Exhibitions
“Metaphors,” West Strand Gallery, Kingston, NY, 2022
“2009 Visionary Art Collective,” Varga Art Gallery, Woodstock, NY, 2009-2010
“Artist Collective,” The Art Upstairs, Phoenicia, NY, 2008
“Strong Modern: Six Artists,” 55 Mercer Gallery, New York, NY, 2002
“Strong Modern,” Williamsburg Art and Historical Society, Brooklyn, NY, 1998
“Affinities,” Carib Art Gallery, New York, NY, 1996
“Homenaje en las Artes a Nuestra Cultura Hispanica,” Goya Gallery, New York, NY, 1996
“Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition Show (BWAC),” Pier III, Brooklyn, NY, 1995
“Areyto for Life: Hispanic AIDS Forum,” Whitehall Gallery, New York, NY, 1994
“Dos Mundos: Una Cultura,” Projecto Cemi y la Universidad del Turabo, Cuagas, Puerto Rico, 1991
“Subasta Pro U.N.E.S.C.O.,” Chuck Levitan Gallery, New York, NY, 1988
“Trazos de Piedra y Pellejo,” Rotunda Gallery, Brooklyn War Memorial, Cadman Plaza, Brooklyn, NY, 1988
“Artistas Latinoamericanos,” Baruch College, New York, NY, 1986
Links
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1BoJKD1giRE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-5U_7qjdsY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MEvqZoGkuVE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYJqGrH_qKg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kcmovAn_VFg&t=428s