Hernan Bas: The Conceptualists

Immerse yourself in the narratively rich scenes painted by acclaimed Miami-born artist Hernan Bas at his exhibit The Conceptualists, on display at The Bass from December 4, 2023 through May 5, 2024. Works in the exhibit include 35 paintings, many never exhibited at museums, including the artist’s largest canvas to date measuring some 9 by 21 feet. 

In his paintings, drawings and installations, Miami-based artist Hernan Bas (b. 1978) creates intricately detailed scenes that invite viewers to decipher an astounding number of visual references. His works often involve a single male or group of male figures caught in moments of stasis, in apparent introspection or still repose. All other action surrounding the character is seemingly suspended for the artist’s and viewers’ thoughtful study.

Drawing inspiration from literary sources, such as the aesthetic decadence and queer eroticism of nineteenth-century writers Oscar Wilde and Joris-Karl Huysman, Bas incorporates visual cues into a range of narratives. His detailed vignettes summon a wide range of cultural references spanning poetry, religion, mythology and literature to the histories of gay struggle, youth culture, news media and television. While earlier works show male characters linked to specific stories, each painting in The Conceptualists depicts a single protagonist enraptured by an eccentric creative pursuit.