Today, we’d like to introduce you to Sheila Fraga.
Hi Sheila, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
As a child, I was fond of drawing, dancing, and acting. After completing high school in Cuba, I was compelled to study on a scholarship in the countryside during the “Special Period” of economic crisis. Determined to pursue art professionally, I decided to hone my drawing skills to gain admission to the San Alejandro Academy of Fine Arts.
I took private lessons with the artist “Duque” to prepare for the Academy. By 1996, I expanded my training to include painting at the Taller de Manero under Professor Alberto Figueroa. In 1997, I joined the Academy and graduated in 1999, specializing in painting, and held a personal exhibition titled “My Interior Space,” featuring paintings, drawings, installations, and performances.
In 2004, I secured an Artistic Residency at the University of Aveiro and the José Sacramento Contemporary Art Gallery, collaborating on a project called “Identifications” with fellow Cuban artists Reynaldo Véliz and Eduardo Agramonte. Subsequently, I moved to the United States to be with my family. In 2007, I married the father of my children, Samuel and Chelsea, who is also a Cuban exile.
Over the past 20 years, I’ve prolifically reproduced paintings and drawings that reflect my identity through the female form, her interactions with men, and her societal context, drawing from various urban and cultural influences, thus showcasing my Cuban heritage.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Throughout my life, I’ve faced numerous struggles. Balancing marriage, motherhood, and my life as an artist has been one of them. I continue to navigate through various challenges involving my personal life, my profession, and my passion for creating art.
I appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I take great pride in expressing my emotions through art, which I consider a personal necessity. Art, to me, is a language of freedom, allowing for self-expression. It’s like a spiritual journey guided by personal experience, intuition, and the knowledge gathered from the world.
As an artist, I act as a filter, capturing and manifesting information through artistic expression. My work often features drawings that combine various painting techniques and collages, focusing on the representation of the female figure and its relationship with daily conflicts, emotional life within couples, societal taboos, and the multifaceted role of being a mother, wife, and woman.
The challenge lies in persistently creating, despite limited space and time, a career where becoming known is arduous yet should naturally flow without significant barriers. My aim is to create art that is compelling, bold, and thought-provoking, portraying an artist who reveals her inner self and establishes a connection with the viewer.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Some may believe that my work is magical and innate, but the reality is far different. Achieving a piece of work requires hard labor, and the process can be lengthy, filled with moments of distress and frustration, despite appearing effortless due to my years of experience.
Each time I confront a blank canvas, the challenge feels as immense as if it were my first encounter with a brush or pencil. I am constantly reminded that there is still much to learn in this profession.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.mocaamericas.org/ceramica/fraga-sheila
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sheilafraga_cubanartist
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/iA2PGHgHokA?si=7d8oLIgoTMvTOuED
- Other: https://latinamericanartpavilion.com/sheila-fraga/
