Arturo Rodríguez: Terra Incognita
“Rather than clever, gracious, deft and proper,
I prefer being awkward, unpleasing, disconnected
but true to myself.”
Fu Chan, Calligrapher 17th Century China
LnS GALLERY is thrilled to present Arturo Rodríguez: Terra Incognita, Rodríguez’s second solo exhibition at LnS Gallery. The body of paintings presented reflect the artist’s personal exploration of his internal psyche during the past three years. Arturo Rodríguez: Terra Incognita is accompanied by an exhibition essay researched and written by Lynette M.F. Bosch, Ph.D. An opening reception will be held on February 4, 2022 from 6pm – 9pm, and the exhibition will be on view through April 9, 2022.
The main inspirations of the imagery found throughout the series harken back to literature, from Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness” and Louis-Ferdinand Céline’s “Journey to the End of the Night,” to Herman Melville’s “Moby Dick.” The semi-autobiographical texts parallel Rodríguez’s artistic journey – his struggles and triumphs – and are presented through a fused amalgamation of images rooted in both fiction and reality.
Arturo Rodríguez (*1956 Ranchuelo, Cuba) lives and works in Miami, Florida. Rodríguez was awarded the Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant in Visual Art in 2014 and is a two-time CINTAS Fellowship recipient (1982 & 1988). He holds an extensive exhibition history, with notable solo shows including, Arcimboldo’s Ghosts, LnS Gallery, Miami, FL (2018), Arturo Rodríguez : The School of Night, shown across New York, NY and Miami, FL (2014), Human Comedy, Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, FL (2006), Arturo Rodríguez, at the Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL (2002), The Floating Self – Arturo Rodríguez, CDS Gallery, New York, NY (1989), and Exiles – Arturo Rodríguez, Durban Art Gallery, Madrid, Spain (1983).
Group shows include the traveling exhibition, Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art, spearheaded by the American Art Museum (Smithsonian), Washington, DC (2013-2014), Lists: To Dos, The Morgan Library & Museum, New York, NY (2011), Season’s Greetings from the Archives of American Art, Smithsonian’s Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, Washington, DC (2010), Unbroken Ties: Dialogues in Cuban Art, Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, FL (2008), and Cuba Siglo XX, Modernidad y Sincretismo, Centro de Arte Santa Monica, Barcelona, Spain (1996).
His work resides in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, NY), the American Art Museum: Smithsonian (Washington, DC), The Israel Museum (Jerusalem), Maria Zambrano Museum (Malaga, Spain), Norton Museum of Art (West Palm Beach, FL), Art Museum of the Americas (Washington, DC), Pérez Art Museum (Miami, FL), the Lowe Art Museum at University of Miami (Miami, FL), and now the Whitney Museum of American Art (New York, NY).
ARTIST INFORMATION
Arturo Rodríguez is a Cuban-born, American artist with an oeuvre spanning four decades whose paintings have been exhibited worldwide. Underlying Arturo Rodríguez’s work is a scaffolding constructed of his life experience: in 1971 he was first transplanted from Cuba to Spain as an impressionable teen, then again as a young man to the New World metropolis and hub of Caribbean and Hispanic culture – Miami. The uprooting exposed him to the entangled complexities of the human condition across time, place, and cultures, and incited a lifelong curiosity.
In Madrid, he discovered the Prado Museum and was enraptured. Diving headlong into the affair of his life’s work, the masters in its galleries educated and influenced him; he drank deeply from the fountain of their inspiration. In this genesis, a yearning to connect to the source of all artistic energy – to channel it- brought forth the artist within. In 1973, his family settled in Miami, where he completed high school and studied life drawing very briefly at Miami-Dade Community College. It was at this time that Rodríguez came in contact with the great music of the United States: blues and jazz. This music, with its element of both grief and improvisation provided the artist with important elements that would develop in his work. During the 1980s, Rodríguez continued to travel throughout Europe, revisiting Spain to study again the works of the 17th century Spanish masters and of Goya, and Italy, where the painter lyness of the Venetians (Giorgione, Titian, and Veronese) also provided significant lessons. He now lives and works in Miami, Florida.
The artist’s works are collected by the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Israel Museum in Jerusalem, and profuse private and public International collectors. He is the recipient of numerous grants and awards: the Joan Mitchell Foundation grant in Visual Art, two-time recipient of the Cintas Fellowship, and two-time recipient of the Florida Individual Artist Fellowship award.
Arturo Rodriguez
Born in Ranchuelo, Las Villas, Cuba
Resides in Miami, Florida
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, NY
Metropolitan Museum of Art (20th Century Art collection), New York, NY
American Art Museum (Smithsonian), Washington, DC
The Israel Museum, Jerusalem
Maria Zambrano Museum, Malaga, Spain
Norton Gallery of Art, West Palm Beach, FL
The Frederick R. Weissman Collection
Cintas Foundation, New York, NY
Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, FL
Perez Art Museum, Miami, FL
Polk Museum of Art, Lakeland, FL
Center for the Arts, Vero Beach, FL
Tampa Museum, Tampa, FL
Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, Miami, FL
Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Largo, FL
Boca Raton Museum of Art. Boca Raton, FL
The Frost Art Museum, Miami, FL
Museum of Latin American Art, California
Miami-Dade Public library System, Miami, FL
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2014-2015
Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant/Visual Art
1998-1999
Florida Individual Artist Fellowship Award
1990-1991
Florida Individual Artist Fellowship Award
1988
Cintas Fellowship, Cintas Foundation
New York, NY
1988
Visual Arts Fellowship
South Florida Cultural Consortium, Metro-Dade cultural Affairs Council, Miami, FL
1982
Cintas Fellowships, Cintas Foundation
New York, NY
1980-1981
Florida Individual Artist Fellowship Award
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2014-2015
Joan Mitchell Foundation Grant/Visual Art
1998-1999
Florida Individual Artist Fellowship Award
1990-1991
Florida Individual Artist Fellowship Award
1988
Cintas Fellowship, Cintas Foundation
New York, NY
1988
Visual Arts Fellowship
South Florida Cultural Consortium, Metro-Dade cultural Affairs Council, Miami, FL
1982
Cintas Fellowships, Cintas Foundation
New York, NY
1980-1981
Florida Individual Artist Fellowship Award
HONORS:
1981
He was commissioned by the City of Miami, , to paint “Homage to the Afro-Cuban Music”, a three piece Mural, to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Week. The Mural was placed on top of Libros Españoles, S.A.’ store, on SW 19 Avenue and 8th Street.
1987
The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, N.Y. acquires his painting “The Great Theater of The World” (El Gran Teatro del Mundo) for permanent collection (20th century Art collection).
1987
He was commissioned by Florida International University, Miami, Florida, to paint “Exiles” (Exiliados) to be presented to Pope John Paul II , as official gift during his visit to the Florida State. A poster was created.
1990
Appearing in interview by the BBC of London in the documentary HAVANA, realized by the Czech director Jana Bokova. Rodriguez talks about his childhood in Cuba and the ironies of his life in exile. Filmed and Broadcast in April 1990 in Havana and Miami, Florida, about the tragic reality of the Cuba of today.
1994, 1996
He created the cover artwork for the legendary Cuban bassist Israel Lopez (Cachao)’s /Grammy Award-winning CD “Cachao Master Sessions Vol. l (1995) and Vol. 2 (1996) on Crescent Moon label for Sony Records. Both were granted a Grammy Award in the United States.
1997
Oral history interview by Smithsonian Institution for inclusion in Smithsonian Archives of American Art. Interview conducted by art historian Juan A. Martinez.
1998
The Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art has been collecting his primary records ( correspondence, notebooks, drawings, photographs, catalogues).
2007
Nominated as a candidate for a 2007 Louis Comfort Tiffany Biennial Award.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2018
Arcimboldo’s Ghosts
LnS Gallery, Miami, FL
2017
Oolite
LnS Gallery, Miami, FL
The Collective Debut
LnS Gallery, Miami, FL
2016
Arturo Rodriguez: Family and Friends Drawing Portraits
Under the Bridge Art Space, North Miami, FL
2015
Arturo Rodriguez: Drawings Proyections with music of David Virelles
WDNA Jazz Gallery, Miami, FL
2014
Arturo Rodriguez: The School of Night
Drawing Exhibition (Book)
Barnard Hall, Barnard College, Columbia University, New York, NY
Arturo Rodriguez: The School of Night
Frost Art Museum, Miami, FL
The School of Night
Drawing Exhibition and Book Presentation
MIA International Airport Art Gallery
Arturo Rodriguez: Arrivals and Departures
Division of Fine Arts & Cultural Affairs, Miami, FL
Arturo Rodriguez: The School of Night
Drawing Exhibition and Book Presentation
Miami International Book Fair, Miami, Fl
Arturo Rodriguez: The School of Night
McNally Jackson Books, New York, NY
2012
Arturo Rodriguez: PASSENGERS
Waltman-Ortega Fine Art Miami, Paris, Wynwood, FL
2011
Memento Mori: Arturo Rodriguez Paintings (Book)
Centre Gallery, Miami Book Fair International, Miami Dade College, Miami, FL
2010
Arrivals and Departures (Catalog)
Salamatina Art Gallery, Long Island, New York, NY
2006
Human Comedy (Catalog)
Bass Museum of Art, Miami Beach, FL
Interior
David Castillo Modern & Contemporary Art Gallery, Miami, FL
2004
Arturo Rodriguez
Editart Gallery, Genève, Switzerland
Arturo Rodriguez (Catalog)
Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Largo, FL
Arturo Rodriguez: Interiors (Catalog)
The Museum of Arts and Sciences, Daytona Beach, FL
2002
PASSAGES: Arturo Rodríguez (Catalog)
Boca Raton Museum of Art, Boca Raton, FL
2001
Elite Fine Art
Coral Gables, FL
2000
Ghost Archipelago – Arturo Rodriguez – (Catalog)
Elite Fine Art, Coral Gables, FL
1998
Arturo Rodríguez (Catalog)
Legacy Fine Art, Panama City, Panama
1997
Arturo Rodríguez
Ibero-American Art Fair, Alonso Arte Gallery, Caracas, Venezuela
1996
Arturo Rodríguez: Recent Works (Catalog)
Elite Fine Arts, Coral Gables, FL
1994
Arturo Rodríguez: Recent Works (Catalog)
Alonso Arte Gallery, Bogotá, Colombia
Crossing (Catalog)
Museum of Art, Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Two Visions
Peninsula Fine Arts Center, Newport News, VA
1993
Arturo Rodríguez
M. Gutierrez Fine Arts, Key Biscayne, FL
1991
Arturo Rodríguez
Barbara Greene Gallery, Bay Harbor Islands, FL
1990
Arturo Rodríguez
Arvil Gallery, México City, MX
1989
The Floating Self – Arturo Rodriguez
CDS Gallery, New York, NY
1987
Arturo Rodriguez: 1978-1987 Paintings (Catalog)
Mitchell Wolfson Gallery, Miami Dade College, Miami, FL
1986
Arturo Rodriguez
The 24 collection Gallery, Bay Harbor, Miami, FL
1983
Exiles – Arturo Rodríguez
Duran Art Gallery, Madrid, Spain
1980
Debris – Arturo Rodriguez
Meeting Point Art Center, Miami, FL
1979
Arturo Rodriguez: New Paintings
Original Art gallery, Madrid, Spain
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2015 – 2014
Handmade: Artists’ Holiday cards from the Archives of American Art
Morgan Library & Museum, New York, NY
(November 2014 – 2015)
2013 – 2014
Our America The Latino Presence in American Art (Book)
American Art Museum (Smithsonian) Washington, D.C
Traveling exhibition to:
Frost Art Museum, Miami, FL
(March 28, 2014 – June 22, 2014)
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
(September 21, 2014 – January 11, 2015)
Utah Museum of Fine Arts, Salt Lake, Utah
(February 6, 2015 – May 17, 2015)
Arkansas Art Center, Little Rock, AR
(October 16, 2015 – January 17, 2016)
Delaware Museum of Art, Wilmington, DE
(March 5, 2016 – May 29, 2016)
Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, TN
(February17, 2017 – June 4, 2017)
Sioux City Art Center, Iowa
(July 8, 2017–October 15, 2017)
2014
Latino Panel Discussion: Our America: The Latino Presence in American Art speak about the exhibition and their Artworks
The Frost Art Museum, Miami, FL
Artists: Maria Brito, Arturo Rodríguez, and Maria Martinez- Canas
2011
Lists: To Dos
The Morgan Library & Museum, Illustrated New York, NY
Archives of American Art
Latin American Art from the Museum’s Collection
Boca Raton Museum, FL
2010
Lists: To-Dos, Illustrated Inventories, collected Thoughts and Other Artists
Lawrence A. Fleischman Gallery, Washington, DC
Enumerations from the Archives of American Art” (Book Catalog)
Season’s Greetings from the Archives of American Art
Smithsonian’s Reynolds Center for American Art and Portraiture, Washington,DC
2008
Unbroken Ties: Dialogues in Cuban Art
Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale, FL
2007
Layers
Lehigh University Art Gallery, Worcester, MA
2006
Cuban Americans and American Culture
The National Endowment for the Humanities Exhibit & Summer Seminar,
Center for the Arts, University of Buffalo, New York, NY
2005
Collection from The Maria Zambrano Museum (Málaga)
Museo de América, Madrid, Spain
2004
De Ida Y Vuelta
Centro Cultural Español, Coral Gables, FL
2002
38 Artistes Cubains
Editart Gallery, Genève, Switzerland
2001
Breaking Barriers: Contemporary Cuban Art (Catalog)
Naples Museum of Art, Naples, FL
2000
Figurative Vignettes
The Art Center, St. Petersburg, FL
Florida Painting: Spectrum of Expression
Museum of Art, Tallahassee, FL
Cuban and Cuban-American Art
Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, FL
Florida Visual Arts Fellowship Exhibit
Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami, FL
VIDEOS:
Arturo Rodriguez: Arrivals and Departures
The Herald Video
Arturo Interview by the Gulf Coast Museum of Art, Largo, FL
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRAtVz8V6Zk
ABOUT LnS GALLERY
LnS is a multi-use art space specializing in contemporary art with a focus on Miami-based artists, and is guided by and named after the gallerist team of Luisa Lignarolo and Sergio Cernuda, partners in marriage and business. The 5000-square foot space is located in North Coconut Grove, within walking distance from the Coconut Grove Metrorail Station.
2610 SW 28th Lane, Miami FL 33133305 987 5642
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