Today we’d like to introduce you to Beatriz Rodriguez.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I was born and spent most of my childhood in the Cienfuegos province of Cuba. At the age of twelve though, I had the opportunity to come live in the United States thanks to my mom’s efforts. The rest of my family remained in Cuba, and I still visit as often as possible. Though I’ve lived in the US for longer than I did in Cuba, I feel torn between the two countries. A feeling as though I am part of both countries and neither at the same time. In many ways, this has informed the narrative of the migrant characters in my artwork.
I attended Miami Dade College for my AA degree, and it was there where I decided to go into art. By chance, I discovered printmaking and fell in love with the field, from there on it became my main focus. I received my BFA at the Florida International University, where I was given the opportunity to exhibit my work at the Frost Art Museum and received the professors’ choice award upon graduation. I was then accepted into the University of Miami for my MFA degree. UM was a great learning experience that broadened my horizons. I was able to cement my own narrative and to experiment with sculpture and ceramics.
Life after grad school was a bit scary and disorienting, but I had the good fortune of meeting and working for Miami based artist, Mira Lehr, as her studio assistant. I helped with her museum-wide solo exhibition at MOCA, which I found to be a very exciting endeavor from which I learned a lot. Though I still work for Lehr, I also have gone back to the University of Miami but this time as a professor. I find teaching Drawing and 2D Design at UM very rewarding.
All the while I’ve had many amazing opportunities to exhibit my work. My most recent exhibition took place in the Fat Village Projects and was called “Yes, I am a Witch”. I was extremely proud to be a part of this show because the theme of the show dealt with subjects that felt very personal to me.
Please tell us about your art.
I create highly detailed woodcuts, dry-point prints, and ceramic sculptures. I choose traditional printmaking techniques to create my images because they give the work an ancient, medieval look. I was always inspired by old illustrations by artists such as Francisco Goya and Albrecht Dürer and wanted my work to use that same visual aesthetics to tell a story that was meant to feel ancient.
All my work starts from a very personal place, and it evolves into a fable-like story or mythology. To some extent, my artwork is visually grotesque but also beautiful in its meticulous attention to detail. The world created takes place in a mysterious, sentient island and we, as the viewers, get glimpses into the lives of the strange inhabitants of this place as they struggle to survive, aspire to escape the island and eventually become one with it. In the piece “The Entrance”, the arrival of these characters to the island is depicted. They enter through a doorway that is bright and shows no scene of the other side as if birthing these characters without past into an existence.
In many ways, this island represents where I come from, Cuba, and the desire for survival and to escape to a better place where you can make a better life for yourself. I was lucky enough to leave when I had the chance, but many don’t and are born and die in the same place, with no hope of escape. An example of this can be seen in my piece “Homesick”, where a decaying female body is depicted sitting on a shore on the remains of a raft, while surrounded by dogs. In the distance, there is a promise of a city peeking on the horizon.
In other scenes, we get more intimate glimpses of these characters in their inhabitants. In “Mother and the Wasted Woman”, we find the character of the Mother attempting to sew together her broken daughter. In “The Rib that I don’t Need”, a woman casts away one of her ribs in defiance of her religion and creation.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
The art world is a very competitive field, and as an artist, a lot of the responsibilities fall on you to make it work. From networking to producing the work, plus making the funds in order to keep making work. The lack of money and time are some of the biggest challenges that I’ve faced so far.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I often track my work process on Instagram (@beazart), where I post videos and progress shots of the work I am developing at the moment. I also post information about upcoming shows and events.
For a closer look of my work, you can visit my website, beazart.com.
I am always looking for opportunities for exhibitions and often post updates of upcoming shows.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://beazart.com/
- Email: bea0626@icloud.com
- Instagram: @beazart
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