Meet Rosa Naday Garmendia

As a multidisciplinary artist, my work intricately intertwines contemporary art with activism, drawing inspiration from the specific trajectory of my life.

Recollections of my early years are scarce, with significant memories beginning to form around the age of seven. Born in Havana, Cuba, my life took a pivotal turn when my parents decided to immigrate to the United States, an experience that left an indelible mark on my life and shaped my artistic perspective.

At the core of my artistic endeavors lies a perpetual exploration of identity and my humanity, influenced by the complexities of assimilation, including the challenges of navigating the repudiation or denial of one’s native culture and identity. Raised as a Cuban woman in the diverse and challenging landscape of Miami, I became acutely aware of the pronounced inequities in income, education, and employment. In many ways, my work delves into the untold stories of U.S. history, uncovering what is often omitted from mainstream narratives.

The quest for my humanity and identity is an ongoing journey and an integral part of my artistic process. I wholeheartedly embrace my diverse heritage, cherishing the rich background of my family. On my father’s side, our lineage traces back to the Basque region of Spain and France, with ancestors who ventured to Cuba over a century ago. The Basque people’s enduring struggle for self-determination from Spain has left an indelible legacy since the 19th century. Meanwhile, on my mother’s side, my great-grandmother hailed from Vera-Cruz, Mexico. Taken to Cuba as a child, she steadfastly retained her identity as a proud Mexican of Mayan descent until her final days. Her petite stature, dark skin, and sleek, straight hair were emblematic of her heritage, an integral aspect of her being.

My passion for art ignited during my formative years as a means of escapism. As a teenager, I garnered numerous local and statewide awards, including the prestigious Scholastic Art Awards. This initial interest evolved into comprehensive studies across various post-secondary institutions, focusing on fine arts, painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, graphic design, and sculpture. A graduate of the University of Miami, my educational journey also encompassed enriching experiences and at the Fort Lauderdale Art Institute, Parsons School of Design, and the University of South Florida.

Despite receiving scholarships and opportunities to join prestigious art schools nationwide, I opted to diverge from that trajectory. Dissatisfied with the elitism prevalent in the art world at the time and the notion that art should remain disconnected from societal issues, I decided to step off that path and withdraw from a Fine Arts Master’s degree program. Instead, I sought out other experiences.

Creating my distinctive path, I dedicated a decade to working in various industries. I traversed the Northeast, Midwest, and South of the United States, working in assembly lines in the automotive industry, laboring in meatpacking slaughterhouses, sewing factories, pushing back airplanes, and operating forklifts. Throughout this period, I lived and worked side by side with undocumented workers from Central America, Haiti, Asia, and the Middle East. This phase proved to be a time of profound learning, offering insights into different cultures and histories.  The experiences gained outside of Miami became a rich source of knowledge about the historical context of enslavement, Jim Crow laws, segregation, the civil rights movement, and systemic racism.

Moreover, this period served as a pivotal juncture for personal development. I refined my proficiency in my native language, Spanish, and encountered the experience of having my “accent questioned” for the first time. Simultaneously, I embarked on a lengthy journey to learn and speak Haitian Creole.  These experiences, coupled with my sense of being an outsider and my own internal conflicts, have made it possible for me to identify with cross-cultural social issues, reigniting my dedication to my artistic practice.

Thank you for your kind words and support. For those who may not be familiar with my work, I define myself as a socially engaged, multidisciplinary artist operating at the intersection of contemporary art and social action. My artistic endeavors are firmly rooted in addressing pressing social issues, embodying a commitment to creativity, activism, and fostering social change.

One of my most cherished works, which has garnered multiple grants, is “Rituals of Commemoration.” It originated from a potent mix of anger and disbelief following the tragic police killing of Michael Brown in 2014. Over the course of nine years, it evolved into a dedicated journey of research, reflection, and exploration.

My focus has been on the meticulous collection, structuring, and visualization of injustice, with the aim of making it accessible to the public. The result is a physical space of remembrance featuring over 1500 painted and inscribed bricks bearing the names of Black men, women, and youth who fell victim to police violence in the United States.

These bricks are thoughtfully arranged in column formations, organized by decades. This installation serves as a poignant placeholder—a lasting testament ensuring that the names of those lost to police violence are not consigned to oblivion. It provides a space for remembrance, bestowing dignity and respect upon these lost lives while symbolically acknowledging the challenges of our present.

“Rituals of Commemoration” has graced prestigious national institutions, including the Corcoran School of Art and Design, Harvey B. Gantt Center for African American Arts & Culture, Utah Museum of Contemporary Art (UMOCA), Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami, African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, and Vermont Studio Center, among others. Internationally, its resonance has extended to places like Guadeloupe, Suriname, Jamaica, and the 14th Havana Biennial, transcending boundaries to amplify its powerful message. This work is an ongoing exploration and expression of my dedication to fostering dialogue around critical issues.