Opening Reception – Cade Salamanca: The Final Push

Image: Cade Salamanca, The Clock is Ticking, 2026, Mixed media on canvas, 24” x 36”
The Final Push marks a pivotal chapter in Cade Salamanca’s artistic and personal journey. In 2026, Salamanca embraced a new name—an act of self-definition that became a powerful affirmation of identity and a catalyst for creative transformation. Freed from expectations that once constrained her, her work has entered a period of greater clarity, confidence, and emotional depth.
This body of work explores the liberation that emerges when authenticity is fully embraced. The introduction of wire mesh and draped chains began as formal material investigations but evolved into potent metaphors for the protective barriers Salamanca had constructed around herself over time. Fragmented mesh and suspended chains symbolize the dismantling of fear, self-doubt, and inherited expectations, revealing a renewed sense of freedom and possibility. Alongside 12 paintings, Salamanca will debut six double exposure self portraits that mark the beginning of a new practice with Film Photography on a Canon AE-1 Program. Both deeply personal and universally resonant, The Final Push is a celebration of self-acceptance, courage, and transformation—a declaration of identity expressed without apology and an invitation to witness the power of becoming fully seen.
Bio:
The Final Push marks Cade Salamanca’s second solo exhibition with Mercury 20 Gallery. Throughout her artistic journey, Salamanca has explored diverse mediums including ceramics and photography. After experimenting with different painting styles, she developed a distinctive voice that combines techniques she has honed over the years—from smooth color transitions to rich textured layers.Salamanca’s work has been shown at the Blue Mountain Gallery in New York City; Made In California 2024, Brea Gallery, in La Brea, CA; Reflections of Us (Juror Sergio Gomez), Warnes Contemporary, in Brooklyn, NY; Metal Haus Gallery, in San Francisco, CA; and others.
Gallery Hours: Friday and Saturday, 12 – 5 pm (and by appointment)
Artist Talk: Saturday, August 29, 3 – 5 pm
Oakland Art Murmur / First Friday: Friday, August 7, September 4, 5 – 9 pm