Pedro Basantes

Pedro Basantes (b.1985) approaches painting as a way to depict and experience the emotions of the past, present, and future of a changing Chicago. An intuitive painter, he lets the piece carry itself through the entire process with the palette serving as a guide. Though influenced by photorealism, his coloristic application to landscape and architectural paintings push and pull viewers to confront the changing of times, for better or worse. Decrepit and forgotten structures regularly paired with dream-like serene skies leave viewers with clashing dramatic visuals that often share emotions mirroring the painter himself.

As a child, Basantes could always be found drawing and painting with early influences including modes of transportation such as aviation design and observing classic cars as introduced to him by his grandfather. He finds himself reminiscing to these times, reflecting on structures that existed alongside himself and the contrast of his growth amidst their decay, still being able to find beauty in the overlooked. During a difficult period in his teens, with encouragement from his mom, Basantes rekindled his passion for the arts and received a scholarship to attend The Chicago Academy for the Arts. After being referred to Gallery 37 by a teacher, he was able to expand on familiar as well as new material and mediums, embracing printmaking, oil painting, street art, and murals. He describes his work with street art as an integral part of his identity and expansion of his formalist research - making use of line and color alone to create atmospheric moods within an abstract composition strengthens his representational drawing and painting.

For Basantes, the physicality of depicting a subject and its textures have brought him a looser process. He captures the setting and emulates personal emotions in the moment with meticulous, seemingly endless, back and forth strokes.  He was invited to join Project Onward in 2006 and after taking an extended break starting in 2017. His return to the studio brings a renewed sense of peace within his practice. He continues to expand his themes of interest to include more organic based content such as figures and portraits, still lifes, marine life, and learning new techniques.

Basantes rejoined Project Onward early 2024.

AWARDS AND HONORS 

Scholarship Chicago Academy of the Arts, 2000

EXHIBITIONS + SPECIAL PROJECTS  

2024 Returning Project Onward Artist 

2024 404 Not Found, The Whitney Oliver Gallery @ the Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, IL 

2018 Places that Matter: Illinois Endangered, in participation with Landmarks Illinois, Project Onward Gallery @ the Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, IL 

2015 Bridgeport View, ComEd commission, Chicago, IL  

2013 Wild Life, Judy Saslow Gallery, Chicago, IL 

2012 Dedication to Jazz, Mural, Chicago, IL 

2011 Día de Muertos XXV, National Museum of Mexican Art 

2006 - 2018 Project Onward Artist