Press Kit &
Institutional Profile
Original Works — Pop-Hyperrealism
"Each work is a single original — the result of 40 to 80 hours of obsessive studio labour on museum-grade cotton paper. No editions. No reproductions. One collector."
Pelayo Menéndez (b. Buenos Aires, Argentina) is a visual artist working exclusively in coloured pencil on museum-grade 100% cotton paper. Operating under the moniker Pelayo Pencil, his practice is rooted in the discipline of hyperrealist drawing — a medium demanding extraordinary patience, technical precision, and an obsessive relationship with light.
His ICON SERIES examines sneaker culture as a form of contemporary iconography, elevating objects of desire — Air Jordan 1s, Air Force 1s, rare Nike colourways — into the language of fine art. His OBJECT SERIES applies the same rigour to luxury accessories: Hermès, Rolex, Patek Philippe — artefacts of aspiration rendered with the gravity of Old Master still life.
Menéndez works entirely in analogue, using professional-grade coloured pencils applied in up to twelve layered passes per section. The result is a surface that confounds the boundary between photograph and drawing — and that survives centuries in archival conditions.
His works are collected privately across Argentina, the United States, and Europe. He is currently available for institutional exhibitions, private commissions, and boutique partnership programmes.
Support
100% Cotton Satin-Finish Paper Arches / Fabriano Artistico · 300 gsm · Acid-free, lignin-free · Museum archival grade
Medium
Professional Coloured Pencils Lightfastness Rating 6–8 / 8 (ISO 105-B02) · Wax and oil-based pigments · Archival under UV-protective glazing
Technique
Layered Burnishing Up to 12 application passes per section · Blending stump, tortillon and dry brushing for tonal gradients
Execution Time
40–80 Studio Hours Per original work · No time-saving shortcuts · Total presence per centimetre
Archival Treatment
UV-Resistant Fixative Final sealant applied under archival conditions · Suitable for framing behind UV-filtering museum glass
Edition Policy
Single Originals Only No prints. No reproductions. No editions. Each work exists once.
Icon Series
Hyperrealist explorations of sneaker culture — Air Jordan, Air Force 1, Nike Dunk — as objects of contemporary mythology. 13 originals, 2022–2026.
Icon 001 · 2024 · 35×50 cm Available
Icon 002 · 2024 Available
Icon 003 · 2025 Sold
Icon 012 · 2026 Available
Icon 005 · 2024 Available
Icon 009 · 2025 Sold
Object Series
Luxury accessories — Hermès, Rolex, Patek Philippe — rendered as contemporary vanitas. 13 originals, 2023–2026.
Object 001 · 2026 Available
Object 013 · 2026 Available
Object 010 · 2026 Available
Object 004 · 2026 Available
Object 005 · 2026 Available
Object 006 · 2026 Available
Shipping
International delivery via DHL Art or equivalent registered fine art courier. Flat-pack in archival polyester sleeve + rigid crate. Worldwide.
Insurance
Full transit insurance to declared value included on all international shipments. Marine/all-risks coverage. Customs documentation and export certification provided.
Documentation
Certificate of Authenticity + high-resolution photography + full provenance record provided with every acquisition. Available in English and Spanish.
Lead Time
Available originals: 5–10 business days worldwide. Commission work: 6–12 weeks from deposit. Rush delivery negotiable for institutional clients.
Exhibition Loan
Works available for institutional exhibition on consignment or loan basis. All logistics, insurance and condition reporting provided by the studio.
Acquisition Terms
Wire transfer (USD / EUR / ARS). Payment plans available for institutional clients on request. Trade pricing for galleries and interior design professionals.
Pelayo Pencil · Buenos Aires
Certificate of Authenticity
Original Artwork · Single Edition
Artist Signature — Pelayo Menéndez
Date of Issue
"This document certifies that the work described above is an original, hand-executed piece by Pelayo Menéndez and constitutes the sole existing original of this composition."
Authenticated by Pelayo Pencil Studio · pelayopencil.com · Registration on file
Private Acquisition & Exhibition Enquiries
Open to Institutional
Partnerships Worldwide
We welcome enquiries from gallery directors, collectors, luxury boutiques, and interior design professionals. All communications are treated with full discretion.