Today we’d like to introduce you to Ricardo Labarca Lebrigio.
Hi Ricardo, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I graduated in 2007 from the Academy of Plastic Arts San Alejandro, Havana. In that same year I
participated in the artistic creative project “Sketch for an archipelago”, where 7 Cuban artists toured Cuba
from one end to the other with creative performance for 3 months and 3 days. After this experience my
work began to have a more experimental and artistic aura with the use of natural and recycled materials.
With the spectrum of artistic manifestations learned, each work began to be part of the dialogue in
development in each of my series of subsequent works.
I participated in many projects with collaboration with others Cubans artists and friends. Making experiments and fusions on different artist styles.
In December 2023, I come to New York to build a new life with my family. Bringing a rich artistic heritage from Cuba, my current work is a dynamic reflection of this transition, blending past roots with the new inspirations and emotional landscapes of this present journey. Is my way to express things that I can’t describe or say with words. And with the big support of my family here and Trinity Community Art Center who’s open me the door of their gallery for show this new season of my life.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There isn’t a smooth road in art. I will always be grateful for the support I’ve received from my family, close friends, and even those who aren’t as close. To everyone who has crossed my path and shared a piece of my life: you give me the strength and motivation to keep going. Everything is part of life’s journey.
Often, the demands of everyday life pull us away from the continuity of our work.
Since arriving in New York, so much has happened to enrich my experiences. Being able to create new art and having the necessary tools to produce it has been a true pleasure. It has allowed me to generate a new series of works rooted in my personal experiences as an artist, despite the challenges of adapting to a new country.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have already shared a bit about my artistic work. I graduated with a specialization in printmaking—a medium I haven’t practiced traditionally much since graduating, but one that remains a constant technique and resource across all my artistic expressions. My work is heavily influenced by painting, sculpture, video, photography, music, dance, and all of their derivatives. I love merging different techniques and styles to communicate a single concept through multiple lenses. Because every medium carries its own inherent meaning, I select them intentionally to better convey deep emotions.
I am best known for using recycled materials and objects found in my environment to construct my pieces, intervening and adapting them to fit a new narrative. My works are also interactive, often inviting the viewer to physically manipulate and reposition various elements.
I believe what sets my work apart—just as every artist has their own distinct path—is that I have developed a highly personal visual language. My dialogue and creative process are deeply rooted in my own lived experiences.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Risk always exists; it’s up to us to decide. When I was in high school, I loved playing sports, but I was also deeply passionate about art. I always did both at the same time. When I graduated, I was offered an athletic scholarship to continue sports, but I chose to study art instead because it was—and still is—my true passion. Since then, I’ve explored other trades and interests to maintain financial stability, but I have never stopped creating art in one way or another. It’s what I truly want to do and express. There is a lot of risk and beauty in that choice, but it’s a risk with its own rewards.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/ricardolabarca
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/labarcalebrigio?igsh=MTNkYWM0NzJjcHFsMg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BY1Q5EPYP/?mibextid=wwXIfr
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@ricardolabarca4209?si=9jmaWZAuzW7IVDA8
