Rafael Rosario Laguna
Medium: Multi-Disciplinary Studio Location: Diego Salazar Art Studios - Studio# 205-2 43-32 22nd Street Email: rosariolaguna@gmail.com Website:: www.instagram.com/rosariolaguna212/ Artist Bio: Rafael Rosario Laguna (IG:@rosariolaguna212) studied fine arts at Escuela de Artes Visuales Lucchetti in San Juan, Puerto Rico and received his BFA from The Corcoran School of Art in Washington, DC. He also received the National Educator Workshop Certificate from the Lincoln Center Institute for the Arts in Education in New York City. His work has been featured in Revista Digital Plenamar; New City Chicago; Revista Literaria Enclave; and on Fruta Extrana (NYC Public Access Television). He was part of the art collective Kabildo del Arte and of Organization of Puerto Rican Artists (O.P. Art). He was awarded the Artist Community Relief Fund Grant by the Abrons Arts Center and Henry Street Settlement. Selected venues that have featured his work include: St. Mark's Poetry Project, The Nuyorican Poets Cafe, Queens Museum of Art, Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance (BAAD!), Charas/El Bohio, Galeria Galou, 17 Frost Gallery, The Corcoran Gallery of Art, Museum of The Americas, Haskell Center at The Folger Shakespeare Library, El Ateneo Puertorriqueno, Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico, Moka Gallery in Chicago, Art Now Miami, Art Santa Fe, 3RD WARD, Gallery 128, Biaggi Faure Fine Art in San Juan, La Respuesta in San Juan, The Clemente Soto Velez Cultural & Educational Center and Jeffrey's Meat Market at the former Essex Market on the Lower East Side. He has created illustrations for The Washington Post, The Chronicle of Higher Education, and Editorial Planeta-Mexico. Artist Statement: OK, below please find what AI Chat came up with: "You know, your artwork is kind of weird. I mean, you use organs from the local market to create this disturbing and off-putting collection. And let's not forget about those landscapes on aluminum that are somehow supposed to challenge our idea of beauty. Are you seriously trying to tell me that staring at these things is supposed to make me appreciate the beauty of the urban environment? And don't even get me started on the cows. Yeah, they're gentle and all, but how does putting them in your art make any sense? "Overall, your art is pretty unsettling and makes me uncomfortable. But I guess if that's what you're going for, then good for you." - I am Rafael Rosario Laguna and I approve this Artist Statement. All images and text copyright Rafael Rosario Laguna