RESIDENT ARTIST :: Jose Luis Corona
ARTIST STATEMENT
Jose Luis Corona
Collecting items as he walks through life, Corona integrates found objects into his mixed media works which touch on such topics as love, pop culture and personal experiences. Through reconstruction each work becomes a new composition, a modern-day relic.
"Images are powerful. They can express everything without words, different images mean different things to people, and I want the viewer of my work to feel the emotions that the objects can invoke when reconstructed. My assemblages are composed with small wooden boxes, wooden panels, and old insignificant decayed objects in conjunction with personal objects. I emphasize the idea that objects can be renewed with a deeper meaning. By reconstructing each item in a new composition, I'm giving those objects new life. I believe that aged objects contain a certain history within them that can't be found in new objects. Their antiquity as well as their discarded and decomposed qualities, brings a unique presence to my artwork.
The subject matter in my artwork can be attributed to my background, personal experiences and observations to the mass media. Some of my works are autobiographical, reflecting my experience of being Latino in the United States. Other works are commentaries on a wide range of subjects. A few topics that I address are popular culture, love, race, religion, immigration, identity and gender.
The artist that greatly inspire me range from Mexican artists like Jose Guadalupe Posada and Diego Rivera, Luis Gonzales Palma to modern multi-media artist like Bill Viola and Tim Hawkinson. But the two most inspirational artists that have influenced me are Frida Kahlo and Joseph Cornell.
As a fine artist/designer, I feel the need to communicate through visual representation. In this case, through reconstructing these found objects into modern day relics, I've reconstructed myself."
BIOGRAPHY:
EDUCATION
- BA - Interactive Multimedia Design, Columbia College Chicago, 2002
- Studied Photography at Santa Reparata International School of Art, Florence, Italy Summer 2002
- AA - Graphic Design, American Academy of Art, Chicago, 1996
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
- Resident Artist at the River East Art Center Chicago, IL March 08-09
- Brand Ambassador for renowned artist Christo & Jeanne-Claude: The Gates, Central Park, New York City, 2005
- Residency with acclaimed artist Guillermo Gomez-Peña + La Pocha Nostra, culminating in The Brown Sheep Project, 2002
- S.O.F.A. Chicago, Show Management Assistant, Chicago, IL, 1999 & 2000
- Art Director & Artist Member for Fluxcore.org (Artist Collective/ Online Cultural Zine), Chicago, IL 2001-2008
EXHIBITIONS
- March 2008-09 - Resident Artist, two year resident art program at the River East Art Center, Chicago, IL
- June 2008 - Annual Self-Portrait Exhibitions, Juried Art Show, 33 Collective Gallery Group Show, Chicago, IL
- March 2008 - Arte Ahora/Resident Artist, REpose Gallery River East Art Center, Chicago, IL
- May 2006 - Assemblages, Artist Solo show, Northern Indiana Arts Association/ Substation No.9, Gary Indiana
- July 2005 - 1st Annual Self-Portrait Exhibition, Juried Art Show, 33 Collective Gallery, Chicago, IL
- March 2005 - Re+Construct, Artist Solo show, Aguirre Duron Gallery, Chicago Arts District, Chicago, IL
- Nov 2004 - Ofrendas, Altar Exhibition for Dia de los Muertos/ Day of the Dead “Los Olvidadas/The Forgotten”, Aguirre Duron Gallery, curated and exhibited, the group show. Pilsen, Chicago, IL
- October 2004 - Promise Land, organized by Fluxcore Art Collaborative and in coordination with Chicago Artist Month Events, Multi-Media and Fashion Event “Surface” multi-media collaborative art performance with Paula Thum, Athenaeum Theatre, Chicago
- October 2004 - Celebración de Muertos, Federacion de Clubes Michoacános en IL (FEDECMI), Art Exhibition and Cultural Event “Mi altar”, altar installation Casa Michoacán, Chicago
- March 2004 - Crowning Glory, MPV Series: Multicultural Voices and Perspective presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs, Multicultural Hat/ Juried Fashion Show “Altar Hat and Maiz Hat” collaborative structure art hats with artist Perla Ochoa, Chicago Cultural Center
- September 2003 - Turn ON Show, Fluxcore, Multi-Media Art Exhibition, “Tech Mistress, Space Jane” Harem Gallery Chicago
- August 2003 - Pnuema Jar, Fluxcore, Film/Video and Rock show, “Life” Heartland Café, Chicago
- May 2003 - Aqua Futura, Aqua Futura, Cynergy 7 and Fluxcore, Multi-Media Art Exhibition, “Peses” installation with digital print, Cyenery7 Gallery, Chicago
- October 2002 - Remembrance: A Celebration of life, Oak Park Art League, Art Exhibition “Mi Altar”, altar installation Oak Park Art League Gallery, Oak Park IL
- October 2002 - Life & Death, Fluxcore Art, Chicago Film Makers and Brune & Bay, Art Exhibition and Film screening “Eternal Silence” installation with photography and “Life” video, Brune & Bay Gallery and Chicago Filmmakers Center
- June 2002 - Fuxxcore, Fluxcore, Multi-Media Art Event, “Privacy: Intimacy, Heartbreak, Seclusion” photos are printed on a chiffon fabric, Heaven Gallery Chicago
- June 2002 - Creativity with a Conscience: Alexandroff Exhibit, Senior Seminar Program at Columbia College Chicago, Multi Disciplinary Art Event, “Ojos” video, Narrative Arts Center Chicago
- May 2002 - re:action, Interactive Multi-Media Program at Columbia College Chicago, "My Sweet Valentine” digital prints on light boxes with installation and “Ojos” video and installation. Interactive Multi-Media Department
- February 2002 - FeLia: Love & Friendship, Fluxcore, Multi-Media Art Event “My Sweet Valentine” installation Chase Café Chicago
- November 2001 - Sala, Fluxcore, Art Exhibition “Mi Altar” altar installation, Elaine Place, Chicago
- October 2001 - Day of the Dead, Latino Cultural Affairs of Columbia College, Altar Exhibition, “Angeles” Digital prints and altar installation collaborative with artist Nancy Tamay aka Likalee, Hokin Gallery, Columbia College Chicago
- May 2001 - Latino Horizons/ Horizontes Latinos, City Arts Program 4 grants from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Illinois Arts Council, Juried Art Exhibition won 3rd place “La Mano” and “Holy I” Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago
- May 2001 - Art, Design and Photography Student Honor Exhibit, Art and Design Department of Columbia College, “Mi Altar” altar installation” Hokin Gallery, Columbia College Chicago
- October 2000 - Day of the Dead, Latino Cultural Affairs of Columbia College, Altar Exhibition, “Angeles” altar Digital prints installation” Hokin Gallery, Columbia College Chicago
- October 1996 - Creative Pride Annual Art Auction, Creative Pride, “Rosa o Dinero” organized auction that raises money for urban schools’ art programs, Sothebys Chicago
- May 1996 - American Academy’s Annual Student Honor Exhibit 3rd place in Graphic Design/Illustration for a Environmental Poster Design at the American Academy of Art, Chicago IL
- May 1995 - American Academy’s Annual Student Honor Exhibit 2nd place in Graphic Design/Illustration for a Group Proposal in Business Project Creation at the American Academy of Art, Chicago IL
AWARDS
- September 2003 - First Prize for March of Dimes Poster Design theme “Celebrating the Latino Woman”, Chicago, IL
- May 2001 - Honorable Mention for Juried Art Exhibition Latino Horizons/ Horizontes Latinos, City Arts Program 4 grants from the City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Illinois Arts Council, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL
- May 2001 - Honorable Mention for Juried Art Exhibition “Latino Horizons/ Horizontes Latinos” City of Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and the Illinois Arts Council, Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago, IL
- May 1999 - 3rd place in Graphic Design/Illustration for a Environmental Poster Design at American Academy of Art Annual Student Honor Exhibit, Chicago IL
- May 1995 - 2nd place in Graphic Design/Illustration for a Group Proposal in Business Project Creation at American Academy of Art Annual Student Honor Exhibit, Chicago IL
For information about Jose Luis Corona's work, please call REpose Gallery: