Sofia Maldonado

INTO GRAY at MagnanMetz Gallery, NY

2013-04-28T18:56:00.000-07:00

Sofia Maldonado: Into Gray
April 26 – June 1, 2013

Thanks to Jamie Martinez, from ArteFuse, for the photo and article, read more here...

Into Gray explores a transitional period in painting for Maldonado. Moving away from organic, tropical forms inspired by her Caribbean roots, Maldonado steps outside of her comfort zone to embrace new techniques and articulating the human experience with color. During this process the artist encountered feeling of frustration, rage and madness as she deconstructed her past. By painting over her familiar naturalistic forms with more angular strokes richly layered with darker colors, Maldonado took an introspective approach to the creative process. Still glimpses of her recognizable Caribbean palette shine through as she delves into this new body of work.

In this exhibition of large-scale canvases, the viewer will encounter explosions of dramatic line work through colorfully layered palettes including metallic, shades of grays and bulky drips of yellow. The paintings are considerably more about lines, performance of texture and the layering process of acrylic and urethane. Bold brushstrokes converge with thick colorful paint drippings. Paintings that comprise the everyday elements encountered in New York City living, including the bleakness of winter, and the welcoming of spring.

Sofia Maldonado (b. 1984) was born from a Cuban mother in Puerto Rico where she grew up. She received her MFA from Pratt Institute, New York in 2006. Most recently, Maldonado was awarded the Manhattan Community Arts Fund by the LMCC and had her first solo museum exhibition at the Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico in 2012. Additional exhibitions include CAAM, Canary Islands, Spain; Museum of Art and Design, New York; Mint Museum, North Carolina; The Ringling Museum, Florida; El Museo del Barrio, The Queens Museum and The Bronx Museum of the Arts in New York. Public projects include Time Square (Time Square Alliance), the 10th Havana Biennial and Real Arts Ways.

For more information or images, please contact the gallery at info@magnanmetz.com or 212 244 2344.

Fever : Tropical Nostalgias & Urban Anxieties in Sofia Maldonado

2013-01-22T18:13:00.005-08:00

Individual exhibition, fall 2012.

Fever : Tropical Nostalgias & Urban Anxieties in Sofia Maldonado, the curator and art critic Carlo McCormick, true champion of the downtown scene, was invited to curate this exhibition... read more

NEW! artist studio & summer recap

2012-08-15T14:11:00.000-07:00

Hello everyone! This summer, Sofia has been very busy painting and spending some time in the Caribbean. Here’s a quick recap of her most recent projects...

Today she is launching her most innovative project, an artist residency space in the artsy neighborhood of Miramar, Puerto Rico. The apartment was designed by Sofia Maldonado's Studio team, and is available to rent for a 1 year lease... more info here!

Sofia’s 2012 summer started in New York where she began a collaborative mural for the MCAF GRANT. For this project she teamed up Cre8tive YouTH*ink, a New York based non-profit organization that introduces inner city kids to the New York art world. The mural project was a blast, and caught the attention of the New York Times.

At the end of June, Sofia traveled to San Juan to have her first solo museum show, Fever : Tropical Nostalgias and Urban Anxieties in Sofia Maldonado, at El Museo de Arte Contemporaneo de Puerto Rico, curated by Carlo McCormick.

At only 27, Puerto Rican street artist Sofia Maldonado, presents her first big retrospective at the MAC (Museo de Arte Contemporaneo) in Puerto Rico. This very prolific artist divides her time between New York and San Juan and is involved in numerous creative and community projects. Her murals and her immediately-recognizable style make her one of the “the most well-known young artists in Puerto Rico”, Marianne Ramírez Aponte (Museum Director at MAC).

Shorty after her opening at MAC, Sofia returned to New York and began a commission for the new headquarters of OutBrain. Along with a new color palette, she also incorporated wood cutouts into this piece, adding a fresh twist to her murals. Enjoy a short stop-motion video and interview here.

In mid-July Sofia celebrated her birthday in Brooklyn with her friends at Fresthetic. UrNewYork, VENG, RIMX and others joined in live painting, music and good times. A few weeks later, Sofia collaborated with her graf friends again for the Cause And Effect group show in Greenpoint.

"This show will feature work from artists we admire like Vicki Pages, Cope 2, Cost, Sofia Maldonado, Cern and of course UR New York. This will probably be one of the best group shows this Summer..." said Jungle Gym Magazine.

Sofia wrapped up July with an invite from Gilf's to paint a graff wall in Williamsburg. It was featured on the Street Art NYC blog, along with ROA and JR public art projects!

POLYPLATE WORKSHOP

2012-03-16T08:06:00.001-07:00

Yesterday we did 2 limited edition of polyplates prints with the help of art students from Northern State University, South Dakota. Thanks to Prof. Peter Kilian!!!

Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft (video)

2012-02-09T07:56:00.000-08:00

WHAT IS INSPIRATION?

A video by Fern Creek Traditional High School students, Louisville, Kentucky.

At The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft

2012-02-07T07:35:00.000-08:00

INTO THE MIX: February 4^th –April 14^th 2012

Artists: Janine Antoni, Christopher Cozier, Blue Curry, Carlos Gámez de Francisco, Marlon Griffith, Sofia Maldonado, Wendy Nanan, Ebony G. Patterson, Sheena Rose, and Heino Schmid. Text by Nicholas Laughlin

The Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft is proud to present Into the Mix, a conversation about how materiality addresses the complexities of cultural stereotypes in an exhibition featuring 10 Caribbean artists. Their artwork takes on new meanings in a context where cultural history is influenced by outside migrating populations, colonial governments, tourists and the popular culture machine. In many societies, craft and hand-worked items help establish a culture of self-worth in the minds of the local population. The creation of these objects is influenced by the economic opportunity presented through tourism, yet souvenirs represent the visitor’s interests and are taken out of context.

(site-specific installation in process)

What is cultural authenticity and who decides what is truly a significant representation of a culture? It is up to contemporary artists and artisans to communicate their intentions and shape the framework in which their work is perceived. The Museum explores ideas from a variety of perspectives that describe the historical, conceptual, and aesthetic nature of the art works as singular vignettes not as sweeping generalizations.

Saturday at the print shop!

2012-01-28T22:36:00.000-08:00

Limited edition prints for "Into The Mix", Kentucky Museum of Arts and Crafts

Special thanks to Omar Velazquez, Rafa Miranda, and Mario Resende.

Puerto Rico @ Art Miami 2011

2012-01-21T11:20:00.000-08:00

Photo by Cushygigs

Photo by Muela Inmunda and One Day Robot

Los puertorriqueños dejan su marca en Miami

por: Gretchen Ruiz Ramos

Miami se viste de gala y se convierte una vez más en la sede de la peregrinación masiva, con el motivo de la semana del arte en la ciudad. Liderada por el fenómeno de la feria Art Basel en el Centro de Convenciones de Miami Beach, surgen un sinnúmero de ferias satélites que se llevan a cabo simultáneamente por diferentes áreas como el Design District y Wynwood en donde se encuentran Pulse, Scope y Art Miami, entre otras.... (leer)

PRFixed & Cinelli bike

2012-01-06T10:55:00.001-08:00

Cinelli by Sofia Maldonado from B W on Vimeo.

Here we shares the process of painting a Cinelli Vigorelli bike frame for “Fijate” the first urban cycling festival, in Puerto Rico, organized by PRfixed.com

Video by BW.

A day in the BRONX...

2011-10-06T23:06:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had a blast painting in the BRONX with COPE2, SEN2, and VENG.

CLICK HERE to enjoy the photo album with our finished wall production!

Slow ride in NYC

2011-09-08T13:50:00.000-07:00

This summer photographer Jose R. Madera and I went for a ride from 145th St (West Harlem) over the Manhattan Bridge to Steel Pulse's concert at Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY.

Enjoy the essence of our bike trip in this short film!

Slow ride in NYC from Luis Rafael Robles (Rafi) on Vimeo.

Wood Images
Rider: Sofia Maldonado
Camara / Edición: Jose Madera
Music: Round Midnight, Amy Winehouse

Special thanks to prfixed.com

Summer 2011

2011-08-27T17:08:00.000-07:00

Before hurricane Irene hits NYC let's share a count down of my fun summer projects. Its been a year full of changes, and all for the best! I definitely love NY more than ever cuz' it was the first year I decide to celebrate my birthday in the city (well, Buschwick).

Birthday wall a collabo with COPE, VENG, 2EASE, SKI, RIMX & El Pirata!!!

In June 14 was the opening of El Museo del Bario Bienale, The (S)Files here I exhibit "Green" a piece part of the Tropical Storm: Broken Boards series. The curators Elvis Fuentes, Rocío Aranda-Alvarado, and Trinidad Fombella, allowed me to elaborate a huge wall installation as part of the work.

Then Creative Youth Think invited me for a mural workshop in Carol Gardens, Bushwick. This was a intense 3 day project with local students from the community.

This mural was such a success that artist Tom Otterness commissioned us an installation in his studio building. I have to thank Jerry Otero, and his crew for such a wonderful experience.

In June 23, Guerilla Galleries (GuGa) presented “THE ART OF BASKETBALL (Next Wave)”, a collection of NBA licensed artworks which taps a select group of leading graffiti and street artists to re-imagine the most iconic symbol of the game – the NBA backboard. Where I had the awesome visit of my friend Kelli!

July 4th was an amazing bike day to the beach with my Puertorrican friends, and luckily we where able to watch an awesome sunset while sailing.... much better than fire works!

Some where in the mix Maribel's wedding took place, in Old San Juan, PR!

There been lots of street art activity and mural painting this summer but definitely my favorite summer mural-collabo was in Isabela, Puerto Rico, with Jaime Suarez, Javier Suarez, Noishh Boom, y Pedro Huck Rosa.

Photo by Rachel Tanner

Although, I gotta' say that meeting VENG & OverUnder while freestlyling our first wall ever was pretty wild and fun at the Welling Court Mural Project, in Queens.

After this VENG and I became partners in crime, and have been collaborating in various events such as live paintings, wheat pasting, and other gallery shows. Luckily Luna Park has been documenting our street interventions on her Flicker Page!

Well, I guess that's as crazy as a summer can get! To keep posted of my upcoming future projects make sure to LIKE my facebook fan page.

Welling Court Mural Project

2011-07-07T13:56:00.000-07:00


Roa, OverUnder, Veng and Sofia Maldonado, photo by Lois Stavsky.

Roa, OverUnder, Veng and Sofia Maldonado, photo by Lois Stavsky

For more information Click Here!

Mural with Cre8tive YouTh*ink!

2011-07-06T12:55:00.000-07:00

Tropical Storm @ Gowanus, with Cre8tive YouTH*ink

Thanks to Cre8tive Youth, Ray Smith Studio, Niborama, and Tom Otterness for such and awesome summer warming project!

For more photos and information click here!

(S)Files

2011-07-06T12:38:00.000-07:00

(S)FILES Curated by Elvis Fuentes, Rocío Aranda-Alvarado, and Trinidad Fombella, El Museo del Barrio; and guest curator Juanita Bermúdez, Biennial of the Central American Isthmus.

For more photos and information click here!

Night adventure with 1DayRobot

2011-07-06T11:38:00.000-07:00

Getting ready to paste up some artwork in the streets of Puerto Rico!

On this last trip in Puerto Rico with Pun18, La Pandilla, and Celso was stories of fun pasting artwork on the street walls of Puerto Rico. Later that day was a night adventure with 1DayRobot.

For more photo's check out the Fan Page!

Payne Skate Park: Bowl

2011-07-06T09:18:00.000-07:00

The unveiled skate park ramp murals for Payne Park in Sarasota, Florida as part of Beyond Bling: Voices of Hip-Hop in Art began on May 21st 2011, ending August 14. The Ringling Museum commissioned Maldonado for the project but many local skaters from Sk8skool, student volunteers from the Sarasota School of Arts and Sciences, Booker and Southeast high schools, came to support and help out.

Beyond Bling: Voices of Hip-Hop in Art "brings together artists who, in the first decade of the 21st century, have provocatively incorporated signifiers of Hip-Hop/street culture into their work." So time to check out some art!

For complete photo album of this project click here.

BEYOND BLING @ Ringling Museum of Art

2011-05-23T08:18:00.000-07:00

Hola! Here are some pictures of the room with my artwork at Ringling Museum. This show is very important, because is my first museum show, and for our surprise the curator selected pieces of the controversial 42nd Street Mural, plus the Concrete Jungle Divas. It is a great honor to exhibit with artists such as Michael Anderson, Iona Rozeal Brown, Vince Fraser, Gajin Fujita, Luis Gispert, Sofia Maldonado, Nadine Robinson, Mickalene Thomas, Hank Willis Thomas and Kehinde Wiley. 

Don't miss the opportunity to visit The Ringling Museum's beautiful gardens, the exhibition is amazing (with IPod hip hop soundtrack), a reading room about the culture, and the Beyon Bling catalog is a collectors item.

I will post more pictures of the complete show soon! For now enjoy my "rebulera" girls. This show goes to all the people that believed in the 42nd Street Mural, and to all the hard working mamis that struggle for their families, and dress sexy as hell. Much love to all the ladies that work in nails salons, and to those who rock their acrylic nails everyday... bra bra! Que siga el perreo.

Photos by Peter Acker

Beyond Bling: Voices of Hip-Hop in Art is the first exhibition to take a focused look at the work of ten artists who all operate within and are informed by hip-hop culture. All of the work displayed has been produced within the first decade of the new millennium providing a snapshot of what is happening in art at this moment. The artists here cannot and should not simply be pigeonholed as “hip-hop artists” because there is no single way to define that term. They are a diverse mix of African American, Latino/a, Japanese American, British, Caucasian, gay, male and female. Hip-hop’s appeal, today, comes from this diversity and inclusiveness. Like all of us, these artists live in a world infused with hip-hop flavors.

This exhibition and accompanying film in the galleries has adult themes, language and content throughout. We suggest that you preview this exhibition before bringing your group of young people.

For more information and catalog visit The Ringling Museum of Art in Sarasota, FL

* Special thanks to Matthew McLendon, Associate Curator, Modern and Contemporary Art *

Indoor wall @ CushyGigs, Miami

2011-05-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

My last mural in Miami was done at my friends of CushyGigs studio in Wynwood, Miami.

Photo by PeterVahan

Beyond Bling: Voices of Hip-Hop in Art

2011-04-07T22:56:00.000-07:00

The John and Mable Ringling Museum of Art presents:

May 21 through August 14, 2011

SOFIA MALDONADO, Concrete Jungle Divas, 2010

Courtesy of Magnan Metz Gallery, New York

In October 2009, media outlets throughout the world marked the thirtieth anniversary of the rap single largely credited with spreading hip-hop culture across America and, eventually, the world. The Sugarhill Gang’s Rapper’s Delight was the first hip-hop expression to make the leap from the neighborhoods of the South Bronx, New York to the nation. Over thirty years later, hip-hop has become a dominant part of popular culture. Hip-hop is now ubiquitous and it is little surprise that its influence can be seen in contemporary art.
Beyond Bling: Voices of Hip-Hop in Art is the first exhibition to take a focused look at the work of ten artists who all operate within and are informed by hip-hop culture. All of the work displayed has been produced within the first decade of the new millennium providing a snapshot of what is happening in art at this moment. The artists here cannot and should not simply be pigeonholed as “hip-hop artists” because there is no single way to define that term. They are a diverse mix of African American, Latino/a, Japanese American, British, Caucasian, gay, male and female. Hip-hop’s appeal, today, comes from this diversity and inclusiveness. Like all of us, these artists live in a world infused with hip-hop flavors.

CLICK!

To download museum catalog and more information about this exhibition

+ mas de 800 razones

2011-03-21T11:15:00.000-07:00

Mas de 800 Razones - Avance from Osvaldo Budet on Vimeo.

Un avance del Documental Más de 800 Razones dirigido por Osvaldo Budet. La imposición de una cuota de 800 dólares y la amenaza de privatización ha creado un ambiente de confrontación y militarización de la universidad de Puerto Rico. Los derechos fundamentales de libertad de expresión han sido macaneados por el estado. Desde enero a marzo del 2011 mas de 233 estudiantes arrestados, 13 suspendidos sumariamente y 6 acusados de delitos criminales, 3 de ellos graves con hasta una penitencia de 5 años de cárcel. Desde hace mas de un año los estudiantes han denunciado públicamente el uso indebido de la fuerza, los actos lascivos y fichaje (carpeteo) de parte de la policía de Puerto Rico. Ningún policía ha sido acusado de delito alguno.

¡Unete a las y los que luchan por una educación PÚBLICA!

Art News Mag: MARCH

2011-03-15T17:40:00.000-07:00

This month ART NEWS MAGAZINE features a review of the new book Frescos: 50 Puerto Rican Artists under 35 by Celina Noguera. The article recognizes the diversity in the puertorrican art scene, and distinguish my public art piece commissioned by Real Art Ways, in Hartford, Connecticut. Enjoy!

LA PERLA

2011-03-12T23:47:00.000-08:00

Cool photo of a friend skating a spot I painted a few years ago in La Perla, Puerto Rico!

(R)amped @ The University of Madison Wisconsin Union Galleries

2011-02-12T20:52:00.000-08:00

( Photo by: AdelinePeck. From left to right: Sally, Sofia, & Nicole)

The Wisconsin Union Galleries and Nicole Rodriguez present Sofia Maldonado in her Midwest debut exhibition: (R)amped, curated by Nicole Rodriguez, and with help Sally Haulfmann the director of Wisconsin Art Committee.

February 4 - March 22, 2011

As a muralist, Sofia mixes high art practice with elements of street culture such as skate, graffiti and hip-hop. Her artwork has been exhibited nationally in various groups and solo shows in the USA, The Caribbean, and Europe.

This site-specific exhibition at the Wisconsin Union Galleries consists of the installation of two skate ramps Maldonado will paint live for patrons during the opening reception, giving audience members the privileged opportunity to engage the artist in questions, watch the artwork as it is created, and question the methodology behind the creative process as Sofia blurs the boundaries between the secluded gallery space and the city streets.

Exhibition possible in part though the generous support of Magnan Metz Gallery.

Opening night photos by: Katie Garth from WUD Art Committee

The process of installation, painting and live performance was filmed by Kali Woods. This video documentary will be introduced to the solo show in mid-February, and will be displayed in the second TV screen installed at the half pipe. Enjoy!

(R)amped

2011-01-29T23:23:00.000-08:00

The Wisconsin Union Galleries and Nicole Rodriguez present Sofia Maldonado in her Midwest debut exhibition: (R)amped, curated by Nicole Rodriguez.

February 4 - March 22, 2011

ARTIST RECEPTION+LIVE PAINTING PERFORMANCE+DJ+ CASH BAR
...February 4, 2011 7-9pm

As a muralist, Sofia mixes high art practice with elements of street culture such as skate, graffiti and hip-hop. Her artwork has been exhibited nationally in various groups and solo shows in the USA, The Caribbean, and Europe.

This site-specific exhibition at the Wisconsin Union Galleries consists of the installation of two skate ramps Maldonado will paint live for patrons during the opening reception, giving audience members the privileged opportunity to engage the artist in questions, watch the artwork as it is created, and question the methodology behind the creative process as Sofia blurs the boundaries between the secluded gallery space and the city streets.

Exhibition possible in part though the generous support of Magnan Metz Gallery