Mimo, A New Gallery Space Founded in Artist's Basement in Bushwick

Carlos Nuñez, an artist based in Brooklyn, contemplated how to use his studio space before quickly realizing: Why not share it with other artists? He then converted his apartment basement into a gallery space.

The birth of Mimo seems more like a philosophical one than anything else, in an incubator of sorts to encourage experimentation and rigor. As described by the founder, “Mimo serves as a space where the language of expression is spoken through the unspoken – in a non-conformist way, and so close to home (literally).” To inaugurate the space, he invited artist and cultural critic Jasmine Amussen in a solo show, The Vestal & The Fasces.

The exhibition’s title comes from the book of the same name by Jeanne L. Schroeder. Using the polarities of the vestal virgins and the phallic fasces, she “reconceptualized property—the legal relationship as well as its not necessarily material object—as a necessary moment in the human struggle for love and recognition.”

As part of the exhibition, artists Alma Laprida and Bryce Hackford created a sound design piece that comprises a two-channel recording of two monophonic synthesizers in the space, played back over two placed speakers.

Mimo, which translates for a caress or sweet embrace in Spanish, is open by appointment only. He tells art currently “I have always been interested in the magnetism of spaces, especially how they influence how we move, talk and think. Traditional galleries usually feel stuffy and intimidating, and I have always pushed for art spaces that can feel more comfortable and experimental while not losing rigor and sensibility. I heavily considered keeping the space as my art studio, but after a few months, I realized that I need people, ideas, and openness as sources of inspiration for my own practice.”

Looking ahead, the gallery seems to be having a busy year already. Nuñez continues when asked about future programming, “We want our programming to be relatively fast. This is our first year, and the easiest way to figure out what works is to try many things. We have at least 7 exhibitions scheduled for 2024. We are also working on a few virtual research projects that will supplement each show and want to make at least one publication in this calendar year.”

Definitely a space to watch.