Graced with an Irving Penn-like flair for capturing elegance and ease, this collection of boldly composed black and white photographs by Silvia Lareo-Vazquez is transportive. It takes viewers on vacation. Lareo-Vazquez focuses closely on people, frequently gazing over their shoulders as they relax at the beach or at pool side or as they engage in other activities such as viewing a new haircut or idly watching a game of bacci.

PATRICIA HEAL - HEAVENLY CREATURES - 2001

JOHN DOLAN - 2001

Looking at Picayo’s new body of work makes one can wonder about the limits between photography and painting. His somber still lives echo the paintings of the Dutch masters of the 17th century like Jam de Heem and Jan Steen; but Picayo infuses these traditional compositions with flowers, glasses, silverware and remains of sumptuous meals not only the sharpness, but also the freshness and elegance of his photography.

Set against a black background all compositions convey the transience and fragility of life. All many of darkness, flowers, fruits and dead birds conjure the ambiguous atmosphere where life and death intermingle.