Chris Mendoza, A Celestial Spirit (1972–2026)

We were shocked and heartbroken to hear of the sudden passing of dear friend Chris Mendoza (1972–2026).

Chris was our very first artist. Born in Nicaragua, he moved to the Bronx as a kid in the 1980s. As the son of an architect, he grew up learning to notice design and intricacies in the world around him, and New York quickly became his own version of art school. “The energy of this city is my art supply,” he told us.

His exhibition, "Celestial Gates," featured his stunning paintings and etchings in our Tribeca gallery in the fall of 2016. It came about after he was invited to participate in Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center's exhibition, "Ctrl+Alt: A Culture Lab on Imagined Futures," which featured more than 40 artists and scholars exploring questions of place, identity, and agency. (We were also honored to be included with a small exhibit and oral history, curated by Ryan Wong and the Chinatown Art Brigade.)

This residency at Pearl River Mart was full-circle for Chris. Many years earlier he'd visit the store and browse trinkets and artisan products. In "Celestial Gates," he included a kaleidoscope he bought from Pearl River 20 years ago, through which he'd encourage visitors to view his paintings.

“Pearl River has always been about bringing together people from different cultures,” Chris said. “Coming here is like going to a gallery, where art takes the shape of these items in our lives.”

He also worked on an exclusive line of products for Pearl River, using Sumi calligraphy ink and brushes to add intricate details to ceramics, footwear, and even a lion dancing head.

After his residency ended, he continued to show support for the gallery and his fellow artists. It was always such a joy to see him at events, from the opening of Yumi Sakugawa's "Fashion Forecasts" to our inaugural artists' dinner in 2019, which celebrated our first 22 exhibitions. 

Rest in peace dear Chris, gone too soon.