Courtesy of
Presa House Gallery
Photos by
Dr. Ricardo Romo

Jaylen Pigford (B. 1996) is an Afro-Latino painter born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, currently based in Houston, Texas. Pigford is a self-taught artist who has honed his craft since childhood. His work fuses vibrant colors and symbolic imagery to explore the balance between light and dark. His paintings are deeply personal, reflecting his experiences of adversity and growth. Through his uplifting art, Pigford reminds us there is always hope, even in the toughest times. We all face challenges and setbacks, but how we respond to them defines us. Pigford has had solo exhibitions at Talento Bilingue de Houston (2019); Presa House Gallery, San Antonio, TX (2021); Ivester Contemporary, Austin, TX (2022 & 2023). He has been included in group exhibitions, including Soy de Tejas at Centro de Artes, San Antonio, TX (2023); Son de Allá y Son de Acá at South Broadway Cultural Center, Albuquerque, NM (2022); Creative Distancing at The Museum of South Texas, Corpus Christi, TX (2020); and Third Coast Biennial at K Space Contemporary, Corpus Christi, TX (2020) where he was awarded Best in Show.

Presa House Gallery kicks off the summer with the return of Houston-based artist Jaylen Pigford. In his second solo exhibition, in April of 2021 at Presa House, Pigford wowed viewers with his nearly sold-out show titled See What I See. The exhibit featured thirteen unique original artworks and marked his debut in San Antonio. Pigford’s newest solo exhibition Apt. A104 will remain on view by appointment through August 19, 2023 at Presa House Gallery (725 S. Presa, St.).

Apt. A104 represents Pigford’s childhood home, where he grew from a young boy in 1st grade to a high school teenager, ultimately shaping him into the person he is today. He attempts to capture a period of time through twelve recent paintings of personal and family moments, deaths, stress, dreams, and his surroundings at Castle Manor Apartments in Flour Bluff, Corpus Christi, Texas. Despite being a shy kid who lacked confidence, Pigford was comfortable with close friends, which would sometimes get them into trouble. Raised by a hardworking single mother with his older brother and sister, Pigford witnessed the ups and downs of life in A104. Despite the difficulties, he fondly reflects on his formative years through a loving and complex lens.

Catch the Apt. A104 Closing Reception August 19 from 7 PM – 10 PM.

Event Link: https://presahouse.com/portfolio/july-2023/

Contact: (210)913-5842 or info@presahouse.com