Whaam! is pleased to present After Hours, a solo exhibition by New York–based, Peruvian-American artist Piero Penizzotto. The exhibition considers friendship as a site of meaning and endurance, attending to moments of shared presence that unfold beyond formal structures of labor, family, or romance.

Working primarily in paper-mâché, Penizzotto presents life-sized figurative sculptures that depict the quiet rituals of togetherness found in bars, back rooms, and late-night spaces. Figures gather, linger, and engage in shared gestures and routines—capturing moments when time stretches and conversation drifts, and intimacy forms through repetition rather than spectacle.

Penizzotto’s practice is rooted in connection as a means of reaffirming purpose and self-worth. By foregrounding friendships often overshadowed by familial or romantic relationships, the exhibition emphasizes community as a sustaining force. The visible seams, textures, and gestures of the sculptures remain intact, underscoring vulnerability, care, and the handmade nature of both the material and the bonds it represents.

Through vivid figuration, the work invites viewers to reflect on their own after-hours moments—who they gather with, where they linger, and the energy they choose to keep close. At its core, After Hours is about presence, appreciation, and “giving people their flowers while they’re still here.”

This exhibition is dedicated to the artist’s close friends from his undergraduate years at Hunter College: Carter, Hannah, Genesis, and Macy.

After Hours will be on view at Whaam! From January 9 through February 20, with an opening reception on Friday, January 9, from 6–8 PM.

About Piero Penizzotto

Piero Penizzotto (b. 1998) is a Peruvian-American artist based in New York. Penizzotto’s sculptural practice is presented as an ode to the friendships and communities he is a part of growing up in New York and South Florida. He recently graduated with honors from Hunter College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Previous exhibitions include Primary Gallery, Miami (2024), White Columns, New York (2023), and Public Access Gallery, New York (2022). Pennizzotto received a 2025 AIM Fellowship at The Bronx Museum.