Daniel Ballesteros

Gold Leaf Forest
October 6 – November 12

Exhibition Catalog
A framed photograph of a tall pine tree hanging on a gallery wall with the artist's name and title "Dana Böttcher - Knotted Pine" displayed on the wall. The gallery has a warm, ambient lighting.
Minimalist art gallery wall featuring a single framed painting of a forest on the left and the artist's name, "Daniel Ballesteros • Gold Leaf Forest," displayed on the right.
Interior of an art gallery showcasing an exhibition titled "Daniel Ballesteros, a Cold Forest". The spacious room features walls adorned with framed artwork and minimalistic furniture.
Interior of an art gallery showing various framed artworks on beige walls, a wooden floor, benches, and soft lighting.
Two framed landscape photographs featuring forest scenes hang on a white gallery wall, positioned symmetrically opposite each other, with a clear wooden floor in foreground.
A framed photograph of a tree hangs on a plain white wall in an art gallery, positioned centrally and illuminated by soft lighting.
Interior view of an art gallery with white walls displaying three framed artworks, a bench in the foreground, and wooden flooring.
Two framed paintings of natural landscapes hang on a gallery wall, symmetrically placed with one painting on each side of the image. Each depicts trees and natural scenery.
A majestic tree with a thick trunk and sprawling branches covered in dense, fine leaves, standing prominently in a misty, soft-lit environment.
Tall redwood trees stand closely together in a dense forest with abundant green foliage. Sunlight filters through the canopy, casting a serene light on the scene. The forest floor is covered with a mix of shadow and light.
A tranquil forest scene with tall trees, including a prominent green pine and several barren ones, set against a textured golden backdrop, suggesting an artistic, vintage-style rendering.
Tall, dense redwood trees stand mightily in a forest, their bark richly colored and textured, surrounded by a misty and lush woodland undergrowth.
A tall, rugged tree with a textured bark and long branches set against a dense green forest backdrop, illuminated by dappled sunlight.
A towering redwood tree with a thick, bark-covered trunk surrounded by lush, green underbrush in a dense forest setting.
Moss-covered, twisted branches of a large tree extend intricately against a backdrop of a dense leafy canopy, conveying an ethereal forest atmosphere.
A towering redwood tree surrounded by a dense forest with smaller trees and foliage, emitting a serene and misty ambiance.

Press Release

Richard Levy Gallery is pleased to present Gold Leaf Forest, a solo exhibition of eight gilded photographs by Daniel Ballesteros.

Inspired by the resiliency of his Filipino ancestors, Ballesteros is drawn to the adaptability of one of the largest and oldest species on the planet, the redwood. The trees become metaphors for lineage, ancestry, and survival. Covering up the sky and ground, Ballesteros  follows a tradition used in religious art by applying gold leaf to his composite photographs as a way to honor these awe-inspiring trees.  The matte surface of the exposed photograph provides contrast with the reflective quality of the gilding. The artist’s heritage of Animism also influences this work.

Daniel Ballesteros has been an artist-in-residence at the Woodstock Center for Photography, the Camera Club of New York, Bose Pacia, The Luminary, and Kala Institute. He has been awarded grants from the Magenta Foundation, En Foco, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Ballesteros currently resides in Oakland, California.

We currently require proof of COVID-19 vaccination to view this exhibition in person, and gallery visitors must wear masks in compliance with the Governor’s mandate.  Images, a virtual walk-through, and catalog for this exhibition will be presented on ARTSY.net and levygallery.com. High-resolution images are available on request. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube: @levygallery @ballesterosprojects #goldleafforest #danielballesteros #richardlevygallery

Dates: October 6–November 12, 2021
Reception: October 16, 6–8 pm
Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 11 am–4 pm
Location: 514 Central Avenue SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102
Contact: 505.766.9888, info@levygallery.com, www.levygallery.com @levygallery

Artwork and Information
Daniel Ballesteros
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