Don Pablo Pedro and his blue friend (photo Jaime Rojo)

Having recently lost a testicle, Don Pablo Pedro sure has balls.

He might tell you that himself, or you could just go to his first solo show at English Kills Gallery in Bushwick that closes tomorrow.  They’ll be having a “Closing Barbecue” and gallery owner Chris Harding advises you to bring your own meat. Whether to eat it before of after viewing the “One-Ball Show” is a very good question.

Dream or nightmare? (Don Pablo Pedro) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Speaking of barbecues, it’s a good thing the mighty Church of England or the Vatican don’t chase down artists for heresy or blasphemy anymore, because our poor young Pablo would be roasting over an open pit right about now. Witness the scroll canvasses with gaping vaginas in the middle of bellies and foreheads, a four-armed chanteuse sucking her own turgid finger, a man giving birth to a screaming baby out of his rectum, and gender bending not seen since the bathroom at Don Hill’s.  Simultaneously riveting and repulsing, after seeing this bevy of multi-colored psycho-sexual torment, I felt guilty and sickened and a little bit turned on.

Do they cover this in Lamaze Class? (Don Pablo Pedro) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

His name is Don Pablo. And he is a warm person who speaks freely, if mischievously, and if there is torment, you wouldn’t know it. With long hair, bushy beard, nail polish, and a knockout fashion designer girlfriend, Don Pablo looks part Jesus of Nazareth, part Devendra Banhart.

She was quite a dish (Don Pablo Pedro) (photo Steven P. Harrington)

And now he’s done a big blue multi-breasted piece on a wall – so that is pretty much all it takes to get on this blog.  As a painter, the dude’s no slouch either – taking it slowly and methodically with careful rendering and attention to detail.  On a sunny afternoon last week we finally saw the gallery show (Opened Aug. 1), and saw DPP in action.

Sometimes it’s hard to get a head in this city (photo Steven P. Harrington)

And you complain about YOUR family (photo Steven P. Harrington)

Brooklyn Street Art: So, for how long have you been painting?

Don Pablo Pedro: My father handed me a brush as soon as I came out of my mothers vagina.

Don Pablo Pedro at work (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Your gallery show features creatures that are very human, yet have multiple variations of genitalia, as well as clever locations for them.

Don Pablo Pedro: Yes they do.

Don Pablo Pedro (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: You recently had a very serious medical crisis. How did that affect you personally and how has it affected your work?

Don Pablo Pedro: I’m lighter now only having one testicle and faster and more efficient.

A bit of a challenge to work with the building’s topography (Don Pablo Pedro) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Are scrolls easy to store?

Don Pablo Pedro: Very easy that’s why I love them.

Toe Detail (Don Pablo Pedro) (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Have you ventured out of the studio to do much street art?

Don Pablo Pedro: Not much lately but maybe more soon.

Don Pablo Pedro (photo Jaime Rojo)

Brooklyn Street Art: Whose this blue friend on the wall?

Don Pablo Pedro: My dream girl .

Chris Stain, Don Pablo Pedro, FKDL (photo Jaime Rojo)

Sorry, couldn’t resist… set design by Justin Mikal Davis by the way.

English Kills Gallery

Pedro Products

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