I was born in Cuba and my family came to the United States in 1971. My childhood/adolescent experience, which also informs my work, is of growing up in Miami. One of my first experiences in the arts took place when I assisted the sculptor Christo with the installation of the Surrounded Island project in the Florida Keys. This experience, at a very young age, influenced my views on art and the process of art making. My present show at the Newark Museum, The Caribbean Abroad: Contemporary Artists and Latino Migration explores topics of migration from a historical context and uses visual imagery of water to refer to the geographical experience of coming from an island.

Presently, I am one of the artists in residency at Smack Melon Studios Program in Brooklyn. This residency will continue until February of 2004. It is given to young emerging artists who need studio space. Last summer I took part in a three months program for international artists and designers at The European Ceramic Work Center in Holland. Since the late 90's until now I have participated in exhibitions in Holland, Australia, Belgium, France and Poland. In New York, my work has been exhibited at a combination of alternative space, galleries and museum: Art in General, El Museo del Barrio, WhiteBox Gallery, Bronx River Art Center, and Phoenix Gallery. In 1998 I was selected as one of the US participants for The P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center International and National Studio Residency Program which coincided with a group exhibition at the end of the program at PS.1. My work that began in a traditional sculpture style has expanded into video and photography. This transition was possible do to the Pollock-Krasner grant that I received in 1998. I am also a recipient of the Cuban Artist Fund Grant.

I choose sculpture/installation as my main media and this incorporates objects, photography, video or performance. A great deal of my work talks about this physical and psychological migration the experience of leaving Cuba, growing up in Miami and now living in New York. How does it feel to be a foreigner and the importance that language plays in everyday life. My moved to New York was to attend school. I received my M.F.A. in Fine Arts from the School of Visual Arts in 1993 and my B.F.A. in Sculpture at Parsons School of Design in 1991. I also attended Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture in 1995 and was awarded the Cosby Fellowship.

Juana Valdes.

Download Artist Resume