Posted: January 31, 2024Written by: Ritchie Bermudez

SAN LUIS OBISPO – The Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery at Cuesta College is thrilled to present an upcoming exhibition featuring the captivating new paintings of Cobi Moules entitled Showering of Sparkling Bits from Feb. 1 through Mar. 13. The highly anticipated collection by Moules reimagines the sublime landscape tradition of 19th century Hudson River School paintings as queer spaces of desire, imbued with a touch of mystery and allure. 

In this exhibition, Moules skillfully incorporates silicone embedded with glitter and hair, creating oozing layers that serve as portals into meticulously crafted mise-en-scènes. Within these scenes, one can find unexpected elements, such as jockstraps hanging from trees, draped across rocks, or nestled in logs. The fleshy texture of the silicone alludes to the queer body while also evoking a sense of horror film intrigue, resembling an amorphous organism that poses a threat to the hidden protagonists within the landscape. 

Explore the captivating world of Cobi Moules’ new paintings at the Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery, where the artist’s unique reinterpretation of the landscape tradition challenges conventions and sparks conversations about desire, identity, and the queer experience.

The opening reception for Showering of Sparkling Bits is on Thursday, Feb. 1, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Harold J. Miossi Art Gallery on the Cuesta College San Luis Obispo campus. An artist talk is scheduled from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. in Room 6304. Live streaming of the event is also available at bit.ly/cobimoules. Admission to the gallery is free. Please visit the gallery webpage or call (805) 546-3202 for a schedule of exhibits and hours of operation. 

About the Artist: Cobi Moules received a BFA from San Jose State University in 2004. In 2010, he received an MFA from The School of Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University. His work has been exhibited at culturally significant institutions, including The Leslie Lohman Museum, The Minneapolis Institute of Art, the Jepson Center, The Museum of Fine Arts Boston, Crystal Bridges Museum, Ogunquit Museum of American Art, and Smack Mellon. Notable awards include the SMFA Traveling Fellowship, the Ruth and Harold Chenven Foundation Grant, and the Joan Mitchell MFA Grant. His work is in the collections of the Crystal Bridges Museum, Leslie Lohman Museum, RISD Museum, Cornell Fine Arts Museum, and 21c Museum. He currently lives and works in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.