Nelson Medina
1962 GTO
oil on canvas (framed;custom welded aluminum,alcantara and wool)pricing available upon request
Nelson, who hails from the Bronx, is not only our feature artisan for June but was also a pivotal element in the creation and execution of our current exhibition, Shifting Gears. Nelson is well known in the automobile industry for his meticulous pinstriping work and is becoming recognized for his incredibly graphic, detailed and expressive acrylic and oil paintings. In a statement Nelson explained,
“I grew up in one of the most eventful cities in the world when the automobile industry was exploding with powerful, beautiful and stylish vehicles… a very cool period to have experienced. Originality in customizing was the thing to do to add character to your vehicle. It was the summer of 1964 and I was 11 years old. I saw a gentleman pinstriping while on a night out with my parents… we stopped for maybe 5 minutes at the most … it just blew me away.”
Nelson told the Reboli Center staff that he was heavily influenced by his father who was a master sculptor of wax in the jewelry trade. Nelson always knew that he held a penchant for creativity but was unsure how to manifest this inclination until he saw the art of pinstriping. “I thought it was just such a cool way of expressing oneself… and through time, dedication and determination, I’ve come to understand how to unite my soul with my body so they may perform as one… doing what I love… this art form has allowed me the ability to express myself in many areas … general creativity, color, style, balance…” Nelson also shared an incident about a tragic car accident that he experienced a little over 6 years ago. The accident left him juggling newly inherited disabilities and put a wedge between him and his beloved pinstriping. It was after this accident that he learned to develop an intense and inspiring love for working on canvas as well. Painting quickly became Nelson’s coping mechanism, helping him to deal with the immense physical pain he was facing. Over time, Nelson has overcome many of his obstacles with grace and now practices both of his passions, painting and pinstriping.
Nelson Medina
1957 Ferrari Testarossa
acrylic on canvas (framed;custom welded aluminum,alcantara and wool)pricing available upon request