City Beats, Light and Shadow

Jul 16 2021 - Aug 12 2021

Artist: Jeff Velarde

Opening Reception:
July 16, 2021
6 – 9 p.m.

Dates:
July 16 – August 12, 2021

Bitfactory Gallery Owner Bill Thomason knew he had met a kindred spirit, when he and fellow artist Jeff Velarde were both participating in a group show at Littleton’s Depot Art Gallery. Upon discussion they realized they had each voted on one another’s work to receive the best-in-show award. This mutual admiration ultimately led to the upcoming solo exhibition of Velarde’s detailed photo-realistic paintings atBitfactory Gallery. City Beats, Light and Shadow, captures the unique magic of each major city he has visited for his day job as a commercial artist, and the imagined story of its subjects. The public is invited to the gallery for an opening reception July 16, 2021, 6-9 pm. Bitfactory Gallery is located at 851 Santa Fe Dr, and welcomes visitors Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., for the run of the show July 16 – August 12, 2021, and by appointment. Work can also be viewed and purchased online at Bitfactory.net.

Having grown up in the city, Velarde has always been inspired by the visual heartbeat of an urban setting. His paintings are set in places like Denver, New Orleans, New York, London, Paris, San Francisco, and more. His work is devoted to telling the story of everyday life around the world, seeking to capture the mood of the setting and transport the viewer into that environment. When there are people in the settings, he congers a story for the characters and tries to convey what they could be feeling. He aims to have his work be pleasing to the eye for its use of color, composition, and subject matter, but also to allow the viewer to glimpse a snapshot of the human condition.

Velarde is a Colorado native, born in Denver in 1963. He grew up in the Villa Park neighborhood on the westside of Denver, walking distance to the old Mile High Stadium. He is a graduate of Denver’s West High School and is an alumnus of the Colorado Institute of Art. Velarde has worked as a commercial artist for over 35 years while pursuing a parallel career as a Fine Artist.

Bitfactory Gallery, located at 851 Santa Fe Dr in the heart of Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe, exhibits work by the best emerging and up-and-coming local, national, and international visual artists. It strives to showcase art that may not be a good fit for other galleries. Additionally, they host one major or renowned artist a year, bringing new and exciting work to Denver. The Bitfactory building also houses artist studios with the vision of providing a helpful, friendly atmosphere for artists to work solo or collaborate with others, as well as a pop-up space, the Garage at Bitfactory. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m., and by appointment. For additional information please contact Bill Thomason at info@bitfactory.net or (303) 862-9367. www.bitfactory.net