Feb. 21, 2013 By Bill Parry
The newest art gallery in Hunters Point may be the most accessible despite only opening to the public on Saturdays from 1-6pm. One just needs to bang on a window during the rest of the week.
The Eduardo Anievas Studio at 10-15 48th Ave. opened two months ago featuring an open-door policy. A simple knock will gain entrance to his first floor working studio with 60 paintings on display.
Anievas has adopted this approach to counter what he sees as a “pretentious art-scene” in NYC. When the native of Santander in the northwest of Spain arrived in New York in 1999 he set about finding a place to sell his work. “I had 18 paintings with me and went gallery to gallery,” said Anievas, “it was humiliating.”
He found the galleries too profit-driven for his liking. “Besides, people don’t go to these galleries to see art. They go to be seen,” the painter said. Now he sells his work on his terms.
“Ever since I was young people have told me to go for the big money, but I chose to keep it reasonable,” said Anievas adding, “being affordable allowed me to stay in the game.”
The paintings for sale in his studio, all oil or acrylic, sell from $100 to $2000, while commissioned pieces, like murals, can run to $5000. He views himself as a craftsman making art for the middle class so they can afford art that pleases them, as opposed to just seeing it as an investment.
After leaving Spain at the age of 23 he moved to Germany where he did a lucrative business in portraits, “The Germans really like their portraits,” Anievas observed. He never felt comfortable there. He tried Portugal, Italy, Bulgaria and Brazil before spending 11 years in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
When the art scene got too crowded there, Anievas discovered LIC. He sees a bright future with the housing boom creating more living room walls that will need decorating. “I see that as an added benefit,” Anievas said, “I love this neighborhood and the people here, we are looking forward to raising our children here.”
Anievas and his wife Elizabeth Stewart are expecting their first child in May.
Asked if painting runs in his family, Anievas said, “My father and brother are sculptors. I find painting is better — have you ever tried to leave a country with 18 sculptures under your arms?”
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