Opening Reception: Árbol de Aceite by Ronald Pizzoferrato

This immersive, site specific installation features Ronald Pizzoferrato's photographic works presented across various visual media. A selection of photo, video, and bibliography pieces render the photographer’s perspective of the Venezuelan oil city of Cabimas—and the longstanding impact of its history with oil extraction—through the eyes of its locals, grounded in the artist’s extensive image-based field research.

“This visual construction seeks to connect how people live, develop, and preserve their unique identity—where oil and its environmental consequences have become part of the cultural and symbolic landscape. Pollution and ecological decay are woven into daily life, and a Black saint sustains the faith and hope that “black gold” has always sought to destroy.” — Ronald Pizzoferrato

“In the process of understanding one another, the figure of the translator is crucial. Árbol de Aceite by Ronald Pizzoferrato and his vision—not foreign, but familiar—weave connections between what is distinctly Zulian and broader Caribbean and national identity phenomena.” —Oriana Nuzzi

Ronald Pizzoferrato (B. Caracas, 1988) is an artist and freelance photographer based in Switzerland.

He holds a Master of Arts in Design, specializing in Trends & Identity in the Zurich university of arts. He is currently a doctoral candidate at the University of Bern's Studies in the Arts (SINTA), with a research focus on digitalization, migration, digital humanities, and decolonization.

His artistic research and practice encompass a variety of media, including photography, video, and installation, with a focus documenting the social and cultural realities of his native Venezuela, engaging global issues of identity and violence. His work has garnered international recognition, having exhibited in museums across Switzerland and Venezuela, and featured in numerous distinguished publications.

Jay Seven Inc. is an artist-run studio-gallery space dedicated to producing art installations and publishing initiatives rooted in craft, research and constraints.

Letra Muerta Inc. is a design studio focused on experimental books, research and collection development, specializing in Latin America and the Caribbean.