It's yours

The monograph 'It's Yours' by José Parlá is published to accompany the solo museum exhibition of the internationally renowned artist at The Bronx Museum of the Arts in New York City (September 9, 2020 - January 10, 2021).

The new paintings evoke the artist's connection to the Bronx, it's History in Hip Hop culture and address the suffering caused by redlining policies, the waves of displacement imposed by gentrification, and structural racism.

'It's Yours' encourages viewers to question ownership in New York's rapidly changing neighborhoods. The rich building up of surface and Parlá's signature gestural line resemble the layers of city walls and pay homage to the Bronx by painting and reflecting the movement and textures of neighborhoods, the marks and traces people leave behind, and the energy and challenges of the city.

Parlá began painting walls in 1980s Miami, where he also became part of the underground art and breakdancing scene. The title, 'It's Yours', is borrowed from a song by the influential Bronx rapper T-La Rock.