Barrio Escalante, San José

Visits by appointment only

Schedule a visit (opens the scheduler)
New York Glitter, by Carlos Tapia. An electric, near-strident impulse takes command of the canvas across a monumental scale stretching over three meters wide.
1 photo · 1 video

Carlos Tapia

New York Glitter

Year
2018
Technique
Acrylic/Canvas
Dimensions
170 × 327 cm
Collection
Glitter
Status
Available
Palette
chrome yellow, magenta, sapphire blue, cadmium red, lilac
Brushwork
Structural and compartmentalized black linework with dense impastos of saturated color and gestural applications of light.

Curatorial analysis

An electric, near-strident impulse takes command of the canvas across a monumental scale stretching over three meters wide. The metropolis appears here not as a rigid construct of steel and asphalt, but as a feverish, living organism that collapses its most recognizable landmarks onto a single frontal plane. From the blazing torch and metamorphic countenance of the Statue of Liberty to the Art Deco crown of the Chrysler Building, New York's icons jostle without spatial pause, partitioned by bold black contours reminiscent of stained glass or graphic comic strips.

The visual rhythm is driven by an uninhibited chromatic polyphony. Sulphurous yellows, vibrant magentas, and ultramarine blues collide with golden fields and accents of commercial signage, fusing Times Square's billboard culture with vaudeville motifs, altered brands, and whimsical creatures. At the center, an obelisk-like tower anchors an upward surge of fiery sparks, topped by bursting rays of light that shatter the upper atmosphere. Traditional perspective yields entirely to vertical compression, where architecture submits to sensory overload rather than gravity.

The painted surface amplifies this impression of excess. Acrylic is laid down in crisp strokes enclosing zones of pure saturation, contrasting with looser, more agitated brushwork in the areas depicting luminous bursts and heat. The pointed arches suggestive of St. Patrick's Cathedral are swathed in hot pink and canary yellow, shedding all liturgical solemnity to plunge straight into the festive consumer carnival that dominates the scene.

The piece operates as a psychedelic allegory of the contemporary metropolis experienced as relentless spectacle. The city transforms into an emotional map where glamour, market frenzy, and popular mythology converge, delivering an immersive encounter poised between pop euphoria and celebratory chaos.

New York Glitter

More works by Carlos Tapia

153 works

Available works

View all 153 works by Carlos Tapia

Similar works

By subject, palette and style

Message the gallery on WhatsApp

Cookies

We use cookies to learn how the site is used and to show the gallery's ads on other platforms. They are only turned on if you accept them.