Upon entering Cesar Forero’s exhibition at Propeller Art Gallery, I was immediately struck by the vibrancy, and conviction that permeated his visual language. His work which is anchored in the symbolic and metamorphic figure of the butterfly extends beyond aesthetic depiction, allowing for a profound social and political commentary. Rooted in his Colombian heritage and lived experience as a queer, BIPOC artist, Forero reconstructs the derogatory connotations of the word “mariposa” into an emblem of resilience and beauty. What might once have been used to humiliate is here reclaimed and exalted, embodying a metamorphosis that is both personal and collective. Through his masterful use of colour, surreal figuration, and performance, Forero’s art critiques systemic discrimination not through confrontation, but through empathy and renewal. Standing before his paintings, one feels not only the intensity of his imagery but also the true hope embedded in his vision.
Cesar Forero, The Present, oil on canvas, 40 x 30 inches (left) and detail (right)
Cesar Forero’s The Present is a strikingly vibrant exploration of emotional exchange and human connection through fantastical forms. The painting’s dreamlike palette, which is dominated by shades of purple, pink, and red, gives the scene a sense of warmth and vitality that feels almost otherworldly. The composition centres on two anthropomorphic figures: a mariposa-like female with resplendent wings and a flower-bodied male offering her a red bloom. This central interaction becomes a symbolic act of giving and receiving, which evokes the themes of affection and reciprocity. The liveliness of their facial expressions, rendered with uncanny animation, suggests that emotion itself is a living thing through all and transcends static form. I believe Forero’s intention is ultimately a consideration of the power of emotional vulnerability. Through the surreal dialogue between the mariposa-like woman and the flower-bodied man, Forero visualizes love not as possession, but as a shared offering. A cyclical act that binds two beings through mutual recognition. And through the vivid chromatic intensity, it reinforces this sense of vitality, as if emotion itself radiates into the surrounding atmosphere, colouring the very world it inhabits. Thus, it becomes not just a depiction of connection, but a visual embodiment of emotional reciprocity through vulnerability.
Cesar Forero, Parenting, oil on canvas, 40 x 30 inches (left) and detail (right)
In Parenting, Forero employs surreal floral figures and vivid coloration to explore the complexities of familial roles and the cyclical nature of care and creation. The central figure resembling a pregnant female form composed of blooming flora, gazes introspectively toward her stomach, suggesting a moment of self-awareness about the journey of motherhood. This is mirrored in the natural world depicted in the background, where a bird tends to three hatchlings in a nest, reinforcing themes of nurture, protection, and the instinctive rituals of parenting across species. To the left, a male flower figure appears almost peripheral, his positioning perhaps alluding to the varying degrees of involvement or emotional distance within parental dynamics. The mariposa, centrally placed, may once again, symbolize metamorphosis. A metaphor for the emotional and physical evolution that parenting necessitates. Forero’s characteristic palette of lively blues, greens, and pinks imbues the scene with a dreamlike vitality, highlighting the emotional intensity and layered symbolism inherent in the act of parenting as both a personal and universal experience.
Kaya Meziane
Images are courtesy of Propeller Art Gallery
*Exhibition information: Cesar Forero, “Mariposa”, October 1 – 19, 2025, Propeller Art Gallery, 30 Abell St, Toronto. Gallery hours: Wed – Sat, 1 – 5:30pm, Sun 12 – 4pm.