La Vispera: February 2024
La Vispera is an art collective created by Colombian immigrants Kelly Jiménez and Alejandro Franco. Their creative journey began in Florida in 2018 and has taken them on a path of artistic exploration. Alejandro excels as a multidisciplinary artist, working primarily in the arrangement of found object assemblages and paintings, while Kelly brings her expertise as an art director to life, specializing in spatial interventions for visual concepts in set design and editorial publishing.
In 2019, while residing in St. Louis, Missouri, they united to form La Vispera, embarking on a journey of consistent collaboration. Their presence in St. Louis was marked by exhibitions at renowned venues such as G-CADD, Lambert International Airport, Angad Arts Hotel, and Duane Reed Gallery, among others. Their artistic process was recognized and commissioned by the Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Washington, the Sheldon Art Galleries, they were entrusted with crafting a work of art for the master suite of the 21C Museum Hotel. They participated as artists in residence at the Laumeier Sculpture Park, and they also proudly serve as environmental artists at Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest in Kentucky.
For the last two years, La Vispera calls Pittsburgh its home, where they are gaining visibility through their participation in the Associated Artist of Pittsburgh, the Office of Public Art Creative Corps and the recent acquisition of one of their works by CCAC through The Art Supply for their new North Campus building. They hope to deepen their connections and expand their artistic horizons in this city.
La Vispera is an art collective between Kelly Jimenez and Alejandro Franco, both Colombian artists who specialize in creating highly-crafted works of art using discarded materials. Our repertoire includes stop-motion animation, photography, sculptures, and, predominantly, stained glass windows made from single-use plastic.
As nature enthusiasts, we continually strive to bring environmental issues to the forefront of our art. Our stained glass pieces are a testament to our commitment to this cause. Through the use of the material's translucency and color variations, we have transformed what is typically a transient and detrimental substance into something of great beauty that we consider worth preserving.
Our meticulous efforts to revive this undervalued material serves as an allegory for the cumulative work required to maintain a healthy ecosystem – one that instills hope and pride in those who appreciate its value.
Recent Residencyand Exhibitions
The acquisition of artwork by CCAC through The Art Supply. Learn more here.
Artist Residency at Bernheim Research Forest. This work is permanently on view. Learn more here.
Show at Pittsburgh Botanic Garden. Learn more here.
Upcoming Exhibition
2023-2024 Featured Artists Exhibition, March 2 – April 19, 2024 at Associated Artists Exhibition Space in Lawrenceville
