Artist’s reception at Centro Sept. 30

The walls at Centro Cultural almost vibrate with vibrant, saturated color and intensity of movement. The oil paintings of Dallas artist Oscar Quesada engage the viewer almost as a challenge— “Can you see the life in this? Can you feel it?!”

While the content is almost classical, mundane — pots of flowers, portraits of musicians, his sleeping wife and dog — one can almost imagine the artist at work applying the thick oil paint with powerful brushstrokes which seem to tell much more passionate stories.

“It’s been my mission to bring objectivity back to art with a twist and a bit of a bend,” Quesada says. “Bright colors, contemporary themes that evoke spiritual and emotional reactions.”

Another example of the artist’s work.

In person, as in his art, Quesada exudes the kind of lust for life reminiscent of Zorba the Greek, or Van Gogh, himself — one of his major stylistic influences. “Uprooted Tulips” reach gasping — or exultant — towards the light as their roots grasp for tether and nourishment from a thin sod. The viewer is left to wonder whether they have been dumped, or escaped from the overturned complacent planter.

“I look for inspiration in music, history, nature, and personal relationships,” he says and his portraits of musicians, family, a chef and others — some famous, others not — reflect both the wear and tear and creativity of driven authentic life.

His portrait of a somewhat younger self, “Paint Rag,” takes us into the messy dayto-day of his studio with the rich scent of linseed oil — is painting a joy — or torment.

Quesada’s paintings each tell a story, but not stories they are giving away.

As the title of his exhibit “Q The Cloud Odyssey” leaves us puzzled, his paintings seem to shout out from many directions at once, begging the viewer to challenge easy answers.

“Originally from Texas, my art went through a transformation after moving to California,” he states. Now he’s back in Dallas; we want to ask, “what happened then…and now?”

Please join us Sunday, Sept. 30, 3-5 p.m. at Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos, 211 Lee Street. Meet the artist Oscar Quesada, ask him questions, enjoy light refreshments and music.