Taira Liceaga
Taira Liceaga
Encaustic painting, fibre sculptures and mixed media artwork
Encaustic painting, fibre sculptures and mixed media artwork
About my visual arts practice
About my visual arts practice
I'm a Puerto Rican artist living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I studied fine arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and the University of Delaware.I use a wide range of media, including drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, fibre sculpture and installation.
I'm a Puerto Rican artist living in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. I studied fine arts at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Nova Scotia College of Art and Design and the University of Delaware.I use a wide range of media, including drawing, painting, collage, printmaking, fibre sculpture and installation.
Through my work, I explore themes of memory, identity, and the continuity – physical and spiritual – that exists through generations of women. I reflect on how legacies of work, strength, creativity, dignity and resistance live on, against all odds, through language, stories, food, crafts, music and dance. I recognize the traces of my mixed ancestry in my body, my skin, my mother’s customs, my grandmother’s sayings…
Through my work, I explore themes of memory, identity, and the continuity – physical and spiritual – that exists through generations of women. I reflect on how legacies of work, strength, creativity, dignity and resistance live on, against all odds, through language, stories, food, crafts, music and dance. I recognize the traces of my mixed ancestry in my body, my skin, my mother’s customs, my grandmother’s sayings…
By using my body as a source for my images or casting its shape, I reflect upon my connection to Nature and its cycles of decay and regeneration.
By using my body as a source for my images or casting its shape, I reflect upon my connection to Nature and its cycles of decay and regeneration.
I'm also interested in the close association of cloth and the female body. Traditionally, women's creativity found a means of expression through clothes and crafts, so I choose to incorporate fabric and fibres in my explorations of a feminine artistic language. I believe that the dual fragility and strength of textiles adequately mirrors women's physical vulnerability and our amazing inner strength.
I'm also interested in the close association of cloth and the female body. Traditionally, women's creativity found a means of expression through clothes and crafts, so I choose to incorporate fabric and fibres in my explorations of a feminine artistic language. I believe that the dual fragility and strength of textiles adequately mirrors women's physical vulnerability and our amazing inner strength.
Art CV
Art CV
Art studies
Art studies
Masters of Fine Arts Degree
University of Delaware
1990-1992
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1987-1990
Exchange Program
Nova Scotia College of Art & Design
1989
Masters of Fine Arts Degree
University of Delaware
1990-1992
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
1987-1990
Exchange Program
Nova Scotia College of Art & Design
1989
Exhibition history
Exhibition history
2007
Living Legacies (Solo Show)
Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Body of Water
Side Space Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2006
Digital Event(o): Toronto Latin American New Media Exhibition
Gallery 1313, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2005
Aquelarre – 7 Latin American Women Artists
Co-curator and exhibiting artist (Organized through el borde art council)
Shift Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
XXX – Visual Arts Ontario 30th Anniversary Exhibition
Lieutenant Governor’s Office, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: April – August 2005
Lennox Contemporary Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: November 15-30, 2005
Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada: January 2006
Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada: March - April 2006
Salvador Allende Arts Festival for Peace 2005 – Art Exhibition
Lennox Contemporary Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2004
Salvador Allende Arts Festival for Peace – Art Exhibition
De Leon White Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ebb & Flow
Gallery 1313, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Latinoamerica
Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
2003
Vaivén / Sway (Solo Show)
A.W.O.L. Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hysteria: Festival of Women
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Salvador Allende Arts Festival for Peace
The Great Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2001
Femme noire, femme nue
Cité collégiale, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Art Smart Event
Toronto Metro Hall Rotunda, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1999
Mestizas II (Solo Show)
Gesu Theatre’s Creativity Center, Montréal, Québec, Canada
1998
Mestizas (Solo Show)
De Tierra del Fuego Gallery, Montréal, Québec, Canada
Images des Femmes
Mile End Library, Montréal, Québec, Canada
1997
Isostasie
Art Weeks at the Centre des femmes d’ici et d’ailleurs, Montréal, Québec, Canada
1996
Mujeres de Pelo en Pecho
Evanston Hall Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
N’sasa
Art Weeks at the Centre des femmes d’ici et d’ailleurs, Montréal, Québec, Canada
1995
Huellas/Footprints
Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1994
Danza (Solo Show)
Independent production at OBORO, Montréal, Québec, Canada
The Quilt Project (Collective project by Women’s Art Resource Centre)
The Koffler Gallery, Koffler Centre of the Arts, North York, Ontario, Canada
1993
Entredos (Collaborative project)
Galeria de la Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1992
En-Suite (Solo Show)
Galerie Bahia,Montréal, Québec, Canada
Embedded-Suspended-Inspired (Solo Show)
Hollingsworth Sculpture Gallery, Newark, Delaware, U.S.
1991
Annual Department of Art Graduate Student Exhibition
University of Delaware Art Gallery, Newark, Delaware, U.S.
1990
Bachelors of Fine Arts Graduation Exhibition
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Art Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Aesthetics and Ethnicity
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Art Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1989
Object-ions/Printed Matter
Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
NSCAD Exchange Student Exhibition
Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
A Part of the Whole
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Lasting Impressions
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1988
Say It
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Hispanic Festival
Museum of Science and Industry of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
2007
Living Legacies (Solo Show)
Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada
Body of Water
Side Space Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2006
Digital Event(o): Toronto Latin American New Media Exhibition
Gallery 1313, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2005
Aquelarre – 7 Latin American Women Artists
Co-curator and exhibiting artist (Organized through el borde art council)
Shift Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
XXX – Visual Arts Ontario 30th Anniversary Exhibition
Lieutenant Governor’s Office, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: April – August 2005
Lennox Contemporary Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada: November 15-30, 2005
Thunder Bay Art Gallery, Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada: January 2006
Art Gallery of Algoma, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada: March - April 2006
Salvador Allende Arts Festival for Peace 2005 – Art Exhibition
Lennox Contemporary Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2004
Salvador Allende Arts Festival for Peace – Art Exhibition
De Leon White Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Ebb & Flow
Gallery 1313, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Latinoamerica
Etobicoke Civic Centre Art Gallery, Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada
2003
Vaivén / Sway (Solo Show)
A.W.O.L. Gallery, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Hysteria: Festival of Women
Buddies in Bad Times Theatre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Salvador Allende Arts Festival for Peace
The Great Hall, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
2001
Femme noire, femme nue
Cité collégiale, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Art Smart Event
Toronto Metro Hall Rotunda, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
1999
Mestizas II (Solo Show)
Gesu Theatre’s Creativity Center, Montréal, Québec, Canada
1998
Mestizas (Solo Show)
De Tierra del Fuego Gallery, Montréal, Québec, Canada
Images des Femmes
Mile End Library, Montréal, Québec, Canada
1997
Isostasie
Art Weeks at the Centre des femmes d’ici et d’ailleurs, Montréal, Québec, Canada
1996
Mujeres de Pelo en Pecho
Evanston Hall Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
N’sasa
Art Weeks at the Centre des femmes d’ici et d’ailleurs, Montréal, Québec, Canada
1995
Huellas/Footprints
Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1994
Danza (Solo Show)
Independent production at OBORO, Montréal, Québec, Canada
The Quilt Project (Collective project by Women’s Art Resource Centre)
The Koffler Gallery, Koffler Centre of the Arts, North York, Ontario, Canada
1993
Entredos (Collaborative project)
Galeria de la Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1992
En-Suite (Solo Show)
Galerie Bahia,Montréal, Québec, Canada
Embedded-Suspended-Inspired (Solo Show)
Hollingsworth Sculpture Gallery, Newark, Delaware, U.S.
1991
Annual Department of Art Graduate Student Exhibition
University of Delaware Art Gallery, Newark, Delaware, U.S.
1990
Bachelors of Fine Arts Graduation Exhibition
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Art Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Aesthetics and Ethnicity
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Art Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1989
Object-ions/Printed Matter
Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
NSCAD Exchange Student Exhibition
Anna Leonowens Gallery, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
A Part of the Whole
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Lasting Impressions
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
1988
Say It
School of the Art Institute of Chicago Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Hispanic Festival
Museum of Science and Industry of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Teaching experience
Teaching experience
Centennial College (Toronto, ON, Canada)
Guest Instructor – Graphic Design Media Program (Fall 2007)
- Taught the course 'Integrated Digital Applications 3'
- Planned and taught the workshop 'Introduction to Character Animation in Flash'
University of Delaware: Art Department (Newark, DE, U.S.)
Art Instructor (Graduate T.A.) (1990-1991)
- Planned and taught 2 undergraduate-level courses: 'Foundation Design' & 'Introduction to Printmaking'
Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum (Chicago, IL, U.S.)
Visual Arts Instructor (1990)
- Taught 'Printmaking' and 'Mixed Media' summer art classes for children aged 4-12
Christina Cultural Arts Center (Wilmington, DE, U.S.)
Visual Arts Instructor / Project Co-coordinator (1991)
- Coordinated the 'Arts Van-Go' project, a mobile art unit offering art activities for children
Centennial College (Toronto, ON, Canada)
Guest Instructor – Graphic Design Media Program (Fall 2007)
- Taught the course 'Integrated Digital Applications 3'
- Planned and taught the workshop 'Introduction to Character Animation in Flash'
University of Delaware: Art Department (Newark, DE, U.S.)
Art Instructor (Graduate T.A.) (1990-1991)
- Planned and taught 2 undergraduate-level courses: 'Foundation Design' & 'Introduction to Printmaking'
Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum (Chicago, IL, U.S.)
Visual Arts Instructor (1990)
- Taught 'Printmaking' and 'Mixed Media' summer art classes for children aged 4-12
Christina Cultural Arts Center (Wilmington, DE, U.S.)
Visual Arts Instructor / Project Co-coordinator (1991)
- Coordinated the 'Arts Van-Go' project, a mobile art unit offering art activities for children
Experience in art organizations
Experience in art organizations
Art Starts (Toronto, ON, Canada)
Project Coordinator (2006)
-Coordinated an African Drumming workshop and the monthly Youth Open Mic.
el borde (Toronto, ON, Canada)
Director (2004 – 2005)
- Co-curated ‘Aquelarre - 7 Latin American Women Artists' (October 6 to 23, 2005 at Shift Gallery)
- Co-coordinated ‘4 Photographers from Xalapa’ (July 14 to August 1, 2004 at Shift Gallery)
Artexte Contemporary Art Information Centre (Montréal, QC, Canada)
Art Catalogue Distribution Assistant (1993 – 1994)
Oboro Artist-Run Centre and Gallery (Montréal, QC, Canada)
Administrative Assistant (1993)
Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum (Chicago, IL, U.S.)
Assistant to the Educational Program's Coordinator / Exhibition Tour Guide (1990)
School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, IL, U.S.)
School Tour Guide / Administrative Assistant (1987 – 1990)
Art Starts (Toronto, ON, Canada)
Project Coordinator (2006)
-Coordinated an African Drumming workshop and the monthly Youth Open Mic.
el borde (Toronto, ON, Canada)
Director (2004 – 2005)
- Co-curated ‘Aquelarre - 7 Latin American Women Artists' (October 6 to 23, 2005 at Shift Gallery)
- Co-coordinated ‘4 Photographers from Xalapa’ (July 14 to August 1, 2004 at Shift Gallery)
Artexte Contemporary Art Information Centre (Montréal, QC, Canada)
Art Catalogue Distribution Assistant (1993 – 1994)
Oboro Artist-Run Centre and Gallery (Montréal, QC, Canada)
Administrative Assistant (1993)
Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum (Chicago, IL, U.S.)
Assistant to the Educational Program's Coordinator / Exhibition Tour Guide (1990)
School of the Art Institute of Chicago (Chicago, IL, U.S.)
School Tour Guide / Administrative Assistant (1987 – 1990)
Press / Reviews
Press / Reviews
Mosaico 21 Online Magazine - Toronto, ON - Interview and online gallery (Spring 2005)
NOW Magazine - Toronto, ON - Art review of Hysteria Festival, by Thomas Hirschmann (10/23/2003)
EYE Magazine - Toronto, ON - Art review of solo show Vaivén / Sway, by David Balzer (09/11/2003)
CKLN -Toronto, ON - Radio Interview (11/02/2003)
Correo Canadiense - Toronto, ON - Newspaper Article (10/02/2003)
Primera Hora - San Juan, PR - Newspaper Article (09/02/2003)
Musique Plus - Montreal, QC - TV Interview (11/1998)
La Voz - Montreal, QC - Newspaper Article (11/17/1998)
Place Publique - Montreal, QC - Newspaper Article (10/29/1998)
Mosaico 21 Online Magazine - Toronto, ON - Interview and online gallery (Spring 2005)
NOW Magazine - Toronto, ON - Art review of Hysteria Festival, by Thomas Hirschmann (10/23/2003)
EYE Magazine - Toronto, ON - Art review of solo show Vaivén / Sway, by David Balzer (09/11/2003)
CKLN -Toronto, ON - Radio Interview (11/02/2003)
Correo Canadiense - Toronto, ON - Newspaper Article (10/02/2003)
Primera Hora - San Juan, PR - Newspaper Article (09/02/2003)
Musique Plus - Montreal, QC - TV Interview (11/1998)
La Voz - Montreal, QC - Newspaper Article (11/17/1998)
Place Publique - Montreal, QC - Newspaper Article (10/29/1998)