Luis Frangella (Argentine, 1944–1990) David Wojnarowicz (Triangle Head)., 1984 Acrylic on cardboard and wood. 25 1/5 × 18 7/10 × 9 1/10 in 64 × 47.5 × 23 cm
David Wojnarowicz Pinturas y Esculturas poster, Desde New York: 37 pintores del East Village New York (From New York: 37 East Village Painters), The Centro de Arte y Comunicación (CAyC), 1984
Argentinian Luis Frangella was a trained architect, painter and sculptor educated at University of Buenos Aires and MIT who moved to New York City in 1976. Luis was a mentor to many young artists like David Wojnarowicz. Luis and David became friends painting the walls of Pier 34 in 1983.
In New York, Luis first turned his attention to painting large figurative, postmodern murals on construction site walls, abandoned Hudson River piers and nightclubs in the East Village and Tribeca. In the summer of 1984, Luis and David traveled together throughout a recently re-democratized Argentina where an underground art scene flourished. There they curated and installed The Centro de Arte y Comunicación (CAyC) exhibition Desde New York: 37 pintores del East Village New York (From New York: 37 East Village Painters) featuring friends and peers.
After being diagnosed with HIV/AIDs, Luis became active in ACT UP. He died of HIV/AIDS-related illness in 1990 at the age of 46.
Listen below to peers Sur Rodney Sur and Judy Glantzman discuss Luis Frangella’s friendship with David Wojnarowicz.
Sur’s excerpts are from conversations with Doneley Meris, Director of HIV Arts Network held at Hal Bromm Gallery in 2018. They appear courtesy of HIV Arts Network and Hal Bromm Gallery.
