Paul Henry Ramirez’s paintings and Sculptures are sophisticated layers of imagery that use a vocabulary of the surreal, the sensual, the geometric and the abstract. All elements are injected with a biomorphic sensibility that is derived from his interest in translating both internal and external elements of the human body into a fresh language of literal and symbolic form. In 2010 Paul Henry Ramirez coined the term biogeomorphic abstraction to describe his own bold style, a fusion of biomorphic and geometric forms. Ramirez’s figural-based abstractions are often exhibited in dialogue with architecture and architectural elements through site-specific installations. Over the past two decades Ramirez has developed and created site-specific installations, which combine his drawings, paintings, objects, sculpture, lighting, stained glass, furniture, music, dance and performance in dialogue with architecture in public space. He creates a total environment, which invites the viewers into a multidimensional sensory experience. Ramirez’s site-specific installations were first featured in New York City’s alternative exhibition spaces; the Drawing Center 1994, Clock Tower Gallery and Franklin Furnace 1995.
Ramirez has had numerous solo exhibitions, including the Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, Oh (2001), the Whitney Museum at Altria (2002) and the Tang Museum (2002-3). In 2010 Paul Henry Ramirez was invited to create a major site-specific installation, BLACKOUT: A Centennial Commission, for the Newark Museum. In 2016-17 he was invited to construct a monumental site-specific installation, RATTLE, commissioned by the Grounds For Sculpture and most recent, Sweet On, a Site-Specific Installation commissioned by Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO (2018-19). Paul Henry Ramirez has shown throughout the United States and Europe. Ramirez’s work has been reviewed in The New York Times, Art in America, ArtForum and many others. His works are in many permanent museum collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Hammer Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum, The Smithsonian National and Space Museum, the Whitney Museum Of American Art, and many private collections.
Paul Henry Ramirez Papers
The Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art, Washington, DC have acquired the Paul Henry Ramirez Papers for their permanent collection. The papers include such material as commission documentation, Audio, individual project files with preparatory sketches and detailed three-dimensional, paper installation plans (pop-ups), and other primary sources related to Ramirez’s artistic practice. The Paul Henry Ramirez Papers are available for research at the Archives of American Art, Washington, D.C., 750 9th Street, NW Victor Building, Suite 2200 Washington, DC 20001.
Selected Collections:
Austin Museum of Art, Austin, TX
Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso, TX
Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, DC
Kresge Art Museum, East Lansing, MI
Mexic-Arte Museum, Austin, TX
The Smithsonian National and Space Museum, Washington, DC
Percentage for Art, New York, NY
Progressive, Mayfield Village. OH
RXART, New York, NY
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC
Tarble Arts Center, Charleston, IL
The Hyde Collection, Glens Falls, NY
The Newark Museum , Newark, NJ
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Ramirez has had numerous solo exhibitions, including the Contemporary Arts Center, Cincinnati, Oh (2001), the Whitney Museum at Altria (2002) and the Tang Museum (2002-3). In 2010 Paul Henry Ramirez was invited to create a major site-specific installation, BLACKOUT: A Centennial Commission, for the Newark Museum. In 2016-17 he was invited to construct a monumental site-specific installation, RATTLE, commissioned by the Grounds For Sculpture and most recent, Sweet On, a Site-Specific Installation commissioned by Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas City, MO (2018-19). Paul Henry Ramirez has shown throughout the United States and Europe. Ramirez’s work has been reviewed in The New York Times, Art in America, ArtForum and many others. His works are in many permanent museum collections, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Hammer Museum, the Hirshhorn Museum, The Smithsonian National and Space Museum, the Whitney Museum Of American Art, and many private collections.
Paul Henry Ramirez Papers
The Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art, Washington, DC have acquired the Paul Henry Ramirez Papers for their permanent collection. The papers include such material as commission documentation, Audio, individual project files with preparatory sketches and detailed three-dimensional, paper installation plans (pop-ups), and other primary sources related to Ramirez’s artistic practice. The Paul Henry Ramirez Papers are available for research at the Archives of American Art, Washington, D.C., 750 9th Street, NW Victor Building, Suite 2200 Washington, DC 20001.
Selected Collections:
Austin Museum of Art, Austin, TX
Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
El Paso Museum of Art, El Paso, TX
Hammer Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, DC
Kresge Art Museum, East Lansing, MI
Mexic-Arte Museum, Austin, TX
The Smithsonian National and Space Museum, Washington, DC
Percentage for Art, New York, NY
Progressive, Mayfield Village. OH
RXART, New York, NY
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC
Tarble Arts Center, Charleston, IL
The Hyde Collection, Glens Falls, NY
The Newark Museum , Newark, NJ
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY