Lee Romero in his studio. Photo by Mary Ann Hardiman
By Harry Smith
Yonkers artist Librado “Lee” Romero will open Galeria Justina y Librado, a new gallery devoted to his work, with public receptions Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10–11, from noon to 5 p.m. at YoHo Artist Studios.
Located just down the hall from Romero’s working studio, the gallery grew from a practical need.
“Galeria Justina y Librado was born out of necessity,” Romero said. “I had a small studio space that was originally designed to showcase the overflow, but it soon became a monumental jumble of chaos piled everywhere. It was impossible to view the work without tripping over the expanding clutter. So my new space is an attempt to organize and show the work in a spacious gallery setting. So far, so good.”
The gallery is named in honor of Romero’s grandparents, Justina and Librado, who came from Spain and settled in New Mexico.
“They were pioneers and survivors,” Romero said, recalling that they captured, broke and sold wild horses while raising a large family that included his father.
Romero studied painting at the San Francisco Academy of Art and went on to a decades-long career in photojournalism before establishing a full-time painting practice at YoHo. His colorful, densely layered paintings draw on landscape, memory and the rhythms of urban life.
Galeria Justina y Librado will provide a permanent setting where visitors can experience and purchase Romero’s work directly from the artist.
The public opening receptions will be held Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 10–11, noon–5 p.m., at YoHo Artist Studios, 540 Nepperhan Ave., Studio 506, Yonkers. After opening weekend, visits will be available by appointment.
Instagram: @calexicokid23, @bx-eye_site • libradoromero.com