Please join us virtually on Friday, June 27 at 7pm when Bebe Bambu sits down with Director Bob Foster for a special Artist Talk! This online program will be broadcast on YouTube and Facebook.

Gabriel Rosario Mongil, who goes by the moniker Bebe Bambu, will be speaking about his new Upper Gallery exhibit, “Coconut Mask Expo by Bebe Bambu,” which opens on June 29th with a reception from 2 PM – 5 PM.

This exhibit celebrates the Vejigante from Puerto Rican folklore, which dates back to the times of colonization. Adorned with a colorful mask, the Vejigante is a beautiful character portrayed in the carnival celebrations of Santiago Apóstol Matamoros. Bebe Bambu reimagines the Vejigante in a modern context, inspired by the Hip Hop movement and Puerto Rican culture to present the Vejigante as a hero and symbol of Indigenous and African ancestry.

We’ll learn about Bebe Bambu’s creative journey, which started at the renowned Escuela Central de Artes Visuales/Central School of Visual Arts in Puerto Rico, to his undergraduate work at the University of Puerto Rico, and graphic design studies at the University of Monterrey in Mexico. We’ll gain insights about his innovative work with murals, including his newest project on 10th street between Avenue B and C on the Lower East Side, and the inspiration for his new exhibit at the Museum.

Please tune in on Friday!