March 21, 2025 (WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.) — The Armory Art Center is pleased to announce its latest exhibition, “Life or Something Like It”,featuring works by Colombian artist Hermes Berrío. The solo show runs now through Friday, May 9, 2025. It is free and open to the public.
“Life or Something Like It” explores the fluid boundaries between reality and perception, memory and reinvention. Berrío’s large-scale works, which will be situated throughout all three galleries at the Armory, bring an expansive exploration of identity and transformation, elevating everyday moments into monumental narratives.
Through painting and mixed media, he blends the mundane with the extraordinary, inviting viewers to reconsider how personal history, cultural symbolism, and imagination intersect. Berrío draws from street culture, social media symbolism, and personal history to examine the ways we construct identity through memory and material culture.
“In my paintings, personal memories intertwine with dreams, creating layered compositions that reflect both intimate experiences and broader social themes,” says Berrío’s artist statement. “Using acrylics, aerosol, textiles, and gold leaf, I capture the vibrancy and complexity of life as it unfolds, sometimes fragmented, sometimes exaggerated, always in flux. By repurposing materials, I challenge notions of value and permanence, emphasizing reinvention as a means of survival.”
Born in Colombia and based in Miami, Berrío has participated in group and solo exhibitions for galleries and institutions in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Australia. He’s also completed several murals, with the most recent installations throughout Miami. His dedication doesn’t stop there. In 2021, he rode his bicycle all the way from Miami to West Palm Beach to view his sister’s (María Berrío) exhibition at the Norton Museum of Art.
“We look forward to welcoming the community to see ‘Life or Something Like It’ at our historic West Palm Beach campus this spring,” says Jill Brown, Armory Art Center CEO. “This exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the nature of experience and how we navigate, adapt, and transform the symbols that shape our lives.”
“Life or Something Like It” is free and will run through May 9, 2025 at the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach.
The Armory will host an opening reception to celebrate Berrío and his exhibition on Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. There will also be a special “Walk and Talk and Q+A” led by the artist on Thursday, April 24, 2025 (6:30-7:30 p.m.) Both events are free and open to the public.
For more information about “Life or Something Like It”, visit armoryart.org.
Calendar Items:
Life or Something Like It
Solo exhibition by Hermes Berrío
March 17 – May 9, 2025
Free and open to the public (Mondays – Saturdays)
Armory Art Center (811 Park Place, West Palm Beach, Fla., 33401)
Special Events:
Opening Reception with HermesBerrío: Thursday, April 3, 2025 (5:30-7:30 p.m.)
Walk and Talk and Q+A led by Hermes Berrío: Thursday, April 24, 2025 (6:30-7:30 p.m.)
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About the Armory Art Center:
Having served the community for over 30 years, the Armory Art Center’s art school and galleries provide creative opportunities to enhance your life. The mission of the Armory Art Center is to inspire the creation and experience of art and the Armory’s vision is to be the leading community resource for arts education. Serving over 3,000 students annually, the Armory Art Center offers 160 courses per term in six terms throughout the year to students ranging in age from pre-school to retiree. Classes in drawing, painting, photography, jewelry, ceramics and sculpture are held in twelve state-of-the-art studios. Twelve exhibitions are hosted annually in three galleries. The Armory’s exhibitions, lectures and special events are open to the public.
The Armory is proud to have been the recipient of several awards in recent years, including The Palm Beach Post’s Best of Palm Beach County (2022 Best Art Gallery), Chamber of Commerce of The Palm Beaches (2021 Nonprofit of the Year), The Flamingos: Florida Weekly’s Best Awards (2021 Best Place to Create Art), the Cultural Council for Palm Beach County’s Muse Awards (2020 Legacy Award) and more.
For information, visit www.armoryart.org or call (561) 832-1776. The Armory Art Center is located at 811 Park Place, West Palm Beach, Fla., 33401.