WEST ORANGE, N.J. – The West Orange Arts Council will present Carlos Mateu’s ‘Pop Geometric’ from May 4 to June 1, at the West Orange Arts Center, 551 Valley Road, West Orange.

‘Pop Geometric’ fuses elements of cubism with realism, surrealism and mysticism to reflect the Afro Cuban life and religions, memories of Cuba, and life in the U.S.  His paintings fuse elements of cubism with realism, using straight lines and perspective to create a geometric and three-dimensional effect, while subtly deforming the images. Intense colors of acrylic are applied in layers like silkscreen, creating clean and precise divisions between tones, textured further with oil pastel. His subject matter incorporates surrealism and mysticism to reflect the Afro Cuban life and religions, memories of Cuba, his life in the United States and his own creative perspective on the world around him.

Carlos Mateu was born in 1970 in Havana, Cuba, and has resided in the United States since 1997. He studied at the Fernando Aguado y Rico Technological Institute and completed his formal art education at the renowned San Alejandro National Academy of Fine Arts. Carlos works as a teaching artist and Cuban dance instructor for various institutions in New York City, including the Brooklyn Museum and the Museum of Art & Design.  He recently exhibited at Galleria360 in Florence, Museum of The City of New York, WBGO 88.3 Jazz and at Jewish Museum of NJ.

This is the third in a series of Latino artist exhibitions this year at the West Orange Arts Center. The exhibit will be on display until Saturday, June 1. Gallery hours are Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m., Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m. and by appointment.

For more information about the artist, visit his fine art website, www.carlosmateu.wix.com/visualart and his dance page:www.carlosmateu.wix.com/cubandance