Lance De Los Reyes

Dear Friends,

I can think of no better way to celebrate the life of my late husband Lance than an exhibition titled ‘1-20-22’, the date of his birth. Lance would be deeply proud and honored, as I am. All that he was and wanted to be is preserved in the many layers of his work - reflecting the mysteries of life that haunted and perplexed him but also blessed him so abundantly.

Approaching his craft like a heretic mystagogue, Lance worked to capture in a mystical way the forces of nature that may elude our intellect but intrinsically shape who we are and what we will become. He embraced the idea that we forward mend our own genetic code by working with the layers of time and with realms that exist concurrent with and alongside of what we see every day.

Mastering the visual language of symbolism, Lance created his art unburdened, continuously transmuting these deep-rooted energies. Profoundly offering himself to this dance was his greatest protection. Nonetheless, being a person with such a divine intoxicating essence, he was inescapably a rebel. He channeled that intangible courage to his ascension through thresholds into the sky, leaving behind arcane text to be decoded, always paying respect to the sacred work that came before him like that of his longtime mentor, friend, and boss, Donald Baechler, who unconditionally loved and supported Lance through thick and thin.

It was his dogmatic vow to his art to never allow fear to be more important than the love he had for it. In living this vow, Lance found the wonder and heart within his work, and the way forward as a revealer of mystery. While the resulting beauty was intentional, it was equally a natural expression of Lance’s alluring spirit, evidence that the intensity of our souls and our relationship to that power is something to celebrate and experience fully.

I think Lance worked harder than anyone I've ever known– to embrace his humanity, to reshape it for the good of all. He was vulnerable...he was flawed...he was beautifully human. Using his own blood as paint, he served something greater than himself. He knew this as he prepared to become an inhabitant of eternity. So we are now left with the artifacts of his endeavor – these timeless, priceless treasures. Thank you my love.

On behalf of Lance's family and his many, many friends, I want to sincerely thank everyone responsible for making this exhibition possible. It is my hope his vision will live on in our lives.

Forever yours,

Anna De Los Reyes