“In my opinion, artists are not a tool for change in society. My role is to analyze this information and make it known to the public. It is up to the people what they are going to do with it. We [artists] propose ideas, and it is up to the people to accept or reject those ideas.” 

-Pedro Vélez

Pedro Veléz (b. Puerto Rico, 1971) obtained his M.F.A. at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and his B.A. in Communications at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in Puerto Rico. His work adopts a multi-disciplinary approach, incorporating painting, large scale wall collages, web-based works and sculpture. Since 1999 Pedro Vélez has channeled moral coercion and political corruption by producing fake exhibition announcements, posters, developing on-going fictional narratives, publishing art journals and creating itinerant presentations with the group, FGA (a.k.a Fucking Good Art) that may occur in the virtual realm.

Recent exhibitions include the Whitney Biennial 2014 in New York and #DrunkDictators, an “On The Wall” installation at Monique Meloche Gallery, Chicago. Past shows include A Study in Midwestern Appropriation, curated by Michelle Grabner, at the Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago; Contemporary Passions: American, European, and Latin American Art from the Serapión and Belk Collection, Museo de Arte de Ponce, PR (2012); Eraser, curated by Rachel Furnari, at Magnan Metz Gallery in NYC (2011); The Day of the Corrupt at Western Exhibitions, Chicago (2009); Epilepsy and Pegatina and Adult Porn, Plush Gallery in Dallas (2007); Godfuck at Galeria Comercial, San Juan (2006).

Special projects for art fairs include: Hell in LAMB UC for NADA Art Fair (2005) and Art LA (2007). His work has also been included in group exhibitions at the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council in NYC, Locust Projects in Miami, The Soap Factory in Minneapolis, and El Museo del Barrio.

His work as an artist and writer has been discussed in the New York Times, Frieze, Artlies and The Miami Herald among many other publications. For 10 years Pedro Vélez maintained a regular column about the art scenes in San Juan and Chicago for Artnet Magazine and his writing has been published in Newcity, New Art Examiner and Arte al Día. He was also the controversial editor of the blog El Box Score in San Juan.

Pedro Vélez works in New York City and Puerto Rico.