Fabian Perez Gallery in Los Angeles is hosting the Neo-Emotionalism Group Exhibition, featuring 20 artists working in painting, photography, and sculpture. The show, running through May 23, centers on feeling and memory, with artists like Shaylen Nelson, Awadé Wade, James Smith, and Martinos Aristidou presenting works that explore personal and cultural narratives. Nelson, an Afrocentric Realism painter, uses Black figures and music to place culture within traditional painting, while Wade’s piece "Abstract Love" draws on a Prince song and uses a tree as a symbol of life and transition.
The exhibition matters because it highlights a growing movement—Neo-Emotionalism—that prioritizes emotional authenticity and diverse perspectives in contemporary art. By featuring emerging and established artists from a wide range of backgrounds, the show reflects the vibrant, multi-ethnic art scene in Los Angeles and underscores the importance of representation in traditional mediums. It also demonstrates how galleries can serve as platforms for artists who use their work to document underrepresented histories and foster deeper human connection.