Galerie LJ presents Grief Embodies Infinite Colors (A Coroner’s Wife), the first solo exhibition in Paris by Spanish-American artist Luján Pérez (a Juxtapoz favorite and part of our 30th anniversary show last year), exploring the multifaceted nature of grief through a new body of works on wood and paper.
Grief Embodies Infinite Colors reflects the artist’s deep interest in mortality and loss. Over the past four years, personal experiences have profoundly shaped her perspective on death and mourning. Married to a funeral director, Luján Pérez has developed an intimate understanding of the rituals and emotions surrounding death, which permeate her latest body of work.
Her creations are deliberately monochromatic: she firmly believes that black-and-white imagery enables viewers to connect more deeply with the essence of an experience, free from the cultural associations tied to specific colors. This approach emphasizes the universality of grief, transcending individual origins and uniting humanity across cultures.
In this exhibition, Luján Pérez presents a series of works inspired by personal encounters, historical art references, and literary allusions to grief and death. Each piece is a visual narrative conveying the complex emotions associated with loss without veering into melodrama.
Luján Pérez’s works have been exhibited in numerous shows, including in New York (where she is represented by Swivel Gallery), across the United States, as well as in Madrid, Seoul, Athens, and Paris. Her unique combination of mediums—her works being simultaneously wall sculptures, engraved paintings, and cut-out prints—sets her apart in the contemporary art scene. This first solo exhibition in Paris invites viewers to reflect on the shared human experience of loss and the myriad emotions it encompasses.