Miguel Rodez
Visual Artist
Copyright Miguel Rodez 2010 - 2018
All rights reserved. (c)
Miguel rodez
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Artist Statement re Portrait Series
Influencing future generations: When I arrived in the United States as a teenager, a cultural revolution was taking place in the country. While young men burned their military draft cards to protest the war in Vietnam, women burned their bras to protest against gender-based discrimination. Youths my age chose idols to look up to. Practically all of them chose famous musicians, sports figures, or controversial politicos. However, my interests lay the visual arts. Therefore, I idolized 20th Century artists. I owe my knowledge of painting to my visual analysis of their work. Therefore, when deciding on painting subject matter for my portrait series, I felt compelled to pay tribute to those whose legacy taught and inspired me. This indebtedness to their legacy is what motivates my current series of 20th Century masters, often blending certain aspects of their work with my own style. (I also paint portraits of other people, but influential 20th Century artists is the key to my artist portrait series). For example, in my portrait of Salvador Dali, I chose to allude to hiss persistent preoccupation with his own mortality by creating an idealized paradise that he would find appealing, as it is drawn from themes Dali utilized in some of his most famous paintings.
Artist Statement re Flower Series
It is in my nature to seduce a viewer's gaze through color, line and form, which is exactly what flowers do to lure other species to carry their pollen to its intended destination. Once enthralled through visual stimuli, the viewer’s eyes are invited to linger and the mind is welcomed to wonder about of the possibilities that my work engenders. It alludes to the irony that exists in a society that exalts freedom of expression while repressing sensuality, which society deems naughty and something to be hidden. The pieces are not meant to be vulgar. Instead, I blend nature and human sensuality in a subtle orchestration, hoping that, through this botanical marriage, the viewer may consider the irony of society’s expectations regarding gender roles, heterosexuality, bisexuality homosexuality, etc. The pieces are are created in a way that appeal to the senses with much attention paid to composition and richness of color. The result are pieces that are just as comfortable making an insightful visual statement at the main hall of a museum as they are serving as an heirloom in the living room of a family with children. My paintings, Bumper Crop and Kissing Magnolia are representative paintings of my botanical series.
Although I utilize various media (drawing, installation, painting, photography and sculpture) when creating artwork, my best known work consists of figurative paintings where I employ a texturing technique where the results resemble oversized brush strokes. Others notice my inclination to utilize the tondo (round) format. One series that I am working on consists of portraits honoring Twentieth Century masters; another series consists of provocative sensual flowers, and yet another relates to an idealized quest for personal freedom.
Artwork description
I was born in Cuba in 1956, at Casablanca, which is a small neighborhood consisting of a mix of Spanish colonial and victorian architecture and where a prominent Spanish fortress with an iconic lighthouse is perched upon a hill that overlooks Havana Harbor. In November 1969, I immigrated to the US with my family and settled in New York City at the Borough of Manhattan. After living there for about 3 years, we moved to Union City for a few months, and then, we relocated to Miami In 1973. Except for my studies at Indiana University and multiple trips lasting a few months at a time to various countries in Europe, Asia, and the Middle-East, I have resided in Miami ever since.
I consider myself to be an autodidactic artist, as my artistic education consisted of studying the work of great masters until I was about 16 years old. I then applied to three top art magnet schools in New York City. After being accepted by all three of them, I chose to attend the High School of Art and Design in New York City’s Upper East Side. Unfortunately, I was able to attend that school for only part of one semester. A few years later, I did take one course in figure drawing, but by this time, I was already proficient in the subject. That training took place at the University of Miami, at Coral Gables, Florida, where I majored in History (including Art History) and minored in both English and Philosophy. The foregoing studies helped to inform my artwork, which has been exhibited at various galleries, international art fairs, museums, and other cultural institutions. This includes, among other venues,the Coral Gables Museum; the Frost Museum’s Sculpture Garden; The Palace of Fine Arts, Dominican Republic; Florida International University’s Green Library; and,the Milander Center for the Arts.
Being a community-minded individual, I have been quite involved in the arts in various ways. For a period of six years in the decade of the 1990s, I served as a Member of the Board and later as Chair Person of Miami’s 12-member Art in Public Places Trust (a quasi-governmental entity that commissions artists to create public art for Miami-Dade County with a multi-million-dollar budget). I have written multiple articles regarding art, culture, and other issues for the cultural magazine Herencia (Heritage); for the Cuban American Bar Association’s CABA Briefs Magazine. I served on the editorial board of the Dade County Bar Association’s DCBA Bulletin newspaper. I have also curated about 30 art exhibits at various cultural institutions.
Miguel Rodez Brief Biography
Miguel Rodez, Curriculum Vitae
I learned to paint by studiously observing the work of master painters; by dutiful practice; and, by conducting self-directed research. By the time I was 16 years old, I applied to three of the top American art magnet schools located in New York City and was accepted to all three of them. I chose to attend the High School of Art and Design at the New York's Upper Eastside, a brief walk from the Museum of Modern Art, but for personal reasons, I was only able to take only introductory courses at said school for only part of one semester. Thus, I received only a basic introduction to the artistic process which was something that I had already accomplished, Not being able to complete what I had started left me quite distraught, as my dreams of pursuing a formal Fine Arts education were dashed in an instant. I did take a course in Figure Drawing at the University of Miami, in Coral Gables, Florida, a few years later, but that too was an introductory course. However, I did earn a Bachelor of Arts in History from said university, which Degree included taking courses in Art History, which were quite edifying. In light of the experiences that I underwent, I consider myself an autodidactic artist. My determination to never stop learning and to always give the best of myself is the reason that I have managed to succeed by achieving what I have set out to accomplish.
Artistic Development
07/21/2017
20th Century Masters: Basquiat, Chagall, Dali, Kahlo, & Picasso
Compositum Musicae Novae
Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
03/04/2015
Purim Mask Exhibit: Exhibited a mixed media sculpture, Medusa
Jewish Museum of Florida, 301 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
02/03/2012
Art in the Breezeway, Coral Gables Museum Plaza
Exhibited: sculpture Lucky Link
Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
01/06/2012
Art in the Breezeway, Coral Gables Museum Plaza
Exhibited: Velocity sculpture, drawings, paintings, and photography
Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
08/31/2010
International Art Fair [FIART] Exhibited giant sculpture “Lucky Link”
Dominican Republic’s Palace of Fine Arts
Avenida Maximo Gomez, Santo Domingo 10204, Dominican Republic
Museum Exhibits
03/09/2019
Painting Provocateurs, Exhibited 8 large format (78" x 78") portraits
Sardiñas Gallery,
St. Thomas University
16400 NW 32nd Ave, Miami, FL 33054
07/21/2017
20th Century Masters: Basquiat, Chagall, Dali, Kahlo, & Picasso
Compositum Musicae Novae
Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
07/28/2016
Large format portraits and sensual flower paintings
Florida International University, Steven & Dorothea Green Library
11263 SW 8 Street, Miami FL 33199
05/16/2015
Visual Poetry Project: Exhibited monotypes.
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
03/21/2015
Spring forward: Exhibited Sensual Flower paintings.
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
09/20/2014
Power Portraits: Exhibited large format paintings:
The Painter; Joaquin; Avraham, and Alexis
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
05/17/2014
Unveiling Joaquin: Exhibited large format painting and photographs
Review by Art Historian & Art History Professor Vivian Donnell Rodriguez
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
03/15/2014
Imagine Liberation: Exhibited 24 paintings, Acrylic paintings on paper
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
12/15/2012
Primal Connection: Exhibited monotypes and Primal connection painting.
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
11/17/2012
Imagine Liberation: Exhibited acrylic paintings on paper
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
02/11/2012
Miami Design District Art Walk: Exhibited acrylic paintings on paper
Majestic Properties, Miami Design District, 35 NE 40 St. Miami FL 33137
05/06/2011
Imagining Liberation: Exhibited acrylic paintings on paper
Domingo Padron Gallery, 1518 Ponce de Leon Blvd; Coral Gables, FL 33134
Solo Exhibits
04/20/2019
Eight Visual Paths; exhibited Saphire Meditation
Florida International University
Steven & Dorothea Green Library
11263 SW 8 Street, Miami FL 33199
12/07/2018
Miami Art Week Exhibit: Exhibited 2 paintings
Hernan Gamboa Gallery, Humboldt International University
4000 W Flagler Street, Coral Gables, FL 33134
11/02/2018
New Horizon 2: Exhibited 1 painting 4 monotypes,
CFA Gallery, 2000 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables FL 33134
10/05/2018
New Horizon 1: Exhibited: Deflowered
CFA Gallery, 2000 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables FL 33134
09/28/2018
La Mano Hispana, Exhibited: Bird of Different Feather
Milander Center for the Arts, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah FL 33012
09/08/2018
Reference Cited, Exhibited Pilar Remembers
Florida International University, Steven & Dorothea Green Library
11263 SW 8 Street, Miami FL 33199
08/03/2018
Teice Memorial Auction: Exhibited: Abstract Seascape
Milander Center for the Arts, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah FL 33012
06/02/2018
Aragon Group Show, Exhibited 8 paintings and one monotype.
Aragon Clubhouse, 8700 W 35th Ct; Hialeah, Florida 33018
06/01/2018
The Grand Illusion: Exhibited monotypes
CFA Gallery, 2000 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables FL 33134
04/06/2018
Journey of an Artist: Exhibited monotypes.
CFA Gallery, 2000 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables FL 33134
03/22/2018
Art at the Icon, Noel Santiesteban, Curator: Exhibited Portrait of Chagall
Icon Building, 475 Brickell Avenue, Miami, FL 33131
03/08/2018
And Still I Rise: Exhibited Cerca del Manantial (Near the Headwaters)
Milander Center for the Arts, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah FL 33012
01/26/2018
Jose Marti Art Exhibit: Exhibited, Magdalena
Milander Center for the Arts, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah FL 33012
01/25/2018
BRADICA group show
Ignatius Center for the Arts,
Belen Jesuit Preparatory School, 500 SW 127thAve., Miami, FL
12/06/2017
Miami Art Week, Spectrum, Blink Group: Exhibited Bumper Crop painting
Wynwood, 1700 NE 2ndAvenue, Miami FL
11/30/2017
What’s on your Palette, Exhibited: Ravenous Artist, Portrait of Villamil
Milander Center for the Arts, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah FL 33012
11/25/2017
Dali & I: Exhibited Portrait of Dali
MAC Fine Art, 833 NE 4th Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
11/10/2017
Dali & I: Exhibited Portrait of Dali
MAC Fine Art, 4601 Military Trail #101, Jupiter, FL 33458
10/27/2017
Blue Tulip Rescue: Exhibited one painting, Searching for my Sky
Sarrazino Gallery, Suite 102, 401 Coral Way Coral Gables, Florida 33134
10/06/2017
La Mano Hispana: Exhibited Portrait of Frida Kahlo
Milander Center for the Arts, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah FL 33012
06/16/2017
High Frequencies: Exhibited one painting, Portrait of Wifredo Lam
Milander Center for the Arts, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah FL 33012
04/27/2017
Hialeah Park Art Collective: Exhibited one painting
Milander Center for the Arts, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah FL 33012
01/27/2017
Jose Marti Art Exhibit: Exhibited Pilar Remembers
Milander Center for the Arts, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah FL 33012
11/19/2016
Drawing Exploration, Part II
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
11/07/2016
Nest-Gen, Exhibited Ovum Dream, A large sculpture installation
Florida International University, School of Engineering
10/15/2016
Drawing Exploration, Part I
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
08/05/2016
Black & White Group Show, Exhibiting portraits Picasso and Basquiat
Milander Center for the Arts, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah FL 33012
07/21/2016
Afterlife of Color Reception 2: Portrait of Dali and Attraction II and II
Milander Center for the Arts, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah FL 33012
04/21/2016
Afterlife of Color Reception 1: Portrait of Dali and Attraction II and II
Milander Center for the Arts, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah FL 33012
02/20/2016
Hello Dali, Exhibited Custom-made Paradise & Forever Dali
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
01/16/2016
Facing Dali: Exhibited large format painting
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
11/11/2015
Badges of Courage Foundation; Sculpture Breast Blossom
MANO Fine Art, Bird Rd. Art District, 4225 SW 75th Ave, Miami, FL 33155
10/17/2015
Drawing Excellence, The Sequel
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
09/19/2015
Drawing Excellence
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
04/18/2015
Miami Green Space
Landscape painting of rare Miami pastoral scenes
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
03/27/2015
Home Show, At Home with Art, BRAD Booth
Exhibited 2 paintings, 1 of which was selected to promote the event
Miami Beach Convention Center, 1901 Convention Ctr. Dr, MB, FL 33139
03/04/2015
Purim Mask Exhibit: Exhibited a mixed media sculpture, Medusa
Jewish Museum of Florida, 301 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
11/16/2014
Nest-Gen, Ecological Art: Exhibited Installation Empty Nest 10′ x 8′ x 8′
The Patricia & Phillip Frost Art Museum’ s Sculpture Garden
Florida International University, 10975 SW 17th St, Miami, FL 33199
10/03/2014
La Mano Hispana; Exhibited 3 paintings: Joaquin; Avraham and Alexis
Milander Center for the Arts, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah FL 33012
05/31/2014
I Shall Walk for You [Por Ti Caminare] Exhibited, Imaginary Launch
Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
05/21/2014
I Shall Walk for You [Por Ti Caminare]: Exhibited, Imaginary Launch
Bacardi Headquarters, 2701 S Le Jeune Rd, Coral Gables, FL 33134
02/15/2014
The Kiss, A show about the concept of kiss, no actual kissing
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
01/25/2014
Artists Applause, Exhibited 10 paintings
Main Gallery, McCormick Historic Building
111 SW 3rd St, Miami, FL 33130
12/07/2013
Ocean Drive Art Blast
Open theme show for established artists, various media
Miami Design Preservation League Welcome Center Building
1001 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, Florida 33139
11/16/2013
Art Fest @ Doral
Open theme show, emerging, mid-career, and established artists
Carlos Albizu University, 2173 NW 99th Ave, Doral, FL 33172
11/16/2013
BLOOM BLAST II
Utilizing flowers as a means of expression
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
10/19/2013
BLOOM BLAST I
Utilizing flowers as a means of expression
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
10/05/2013
MEDLEY at Duo exhibit Miguel Rodez & Barry Gross
Exhibited a dozen paintings
Barry Gross Gallery, North Beach, Fort Lauderdale, FL
10/04/2013
La Mano Hispana, Exhibited 2 paintings: Cachita and The Painter
Milander Center for the Arts, 4800 Palm Avenue, Hialeah FL 33012
09/21/2013
Drawing Exploration II
Drawings, Open theme
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
03/16/2013
Sexual Currents
Exhibit about sensuality, sexuality, practices, and gender identity
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
02/16/2013
Passion Red
Featuring artwork where red becomes the protagonist in the piece
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
01/19/2013
Face 2 Face
Exhibit entirely composed of self-portraits
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
10/20/2012
A Woman’s Perspective
Open theme from a female perspective
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
09/15/2012
Drawn from Within
Drawing, open theme
Bird Road Art District, 4229 SW 75 Ave, Miami FL 33155
08/18/2012
Made in the USA, group show
Exhibited installation: American Idea
Mano Fine Art, Bird Road Art District, Miami Florida
03/01/2012
Arte Americas (Curated by Hoy Arte Hoy staff) Exhibited drawings
Miami Beach Convention Center, Hall A, Booth 811
1901 Convention Center Dr., Miami Beach, FL 33139
03/10/2012
The Art Link Gallery, Wynwood Arts District.
Exhibited fine arts photography
130 NW 36th St, Miami, FL 33127
02/03/2012
Art in the Breezeway, Coral Gables Museum Plaza
Exhibited: sculpture Lucky Link
Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
01/06/2012
Art in the Breezeway, Coral Gables Museum Plaza
Exhibited: Velocity, drawing, painting, and photography
Coral Gables Museum, 285 Aragon Ave, Coral Gables, FL 33134
12/05/2011
Giants in the City, Miami Art Week at Bayfront Park
Exhibited Monumental inflatable sculpture “Velocity”
Bayfront Park, Downtown Miami Florida
11/07/2011
Sleepless Nights: Exhibited large installation: “Man vs. Nature”
Roof terrace at Catalina Hotel Complex
1732 Collins Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
09/01/2011
Artist Blend
Exhibited Painting
Sunset Fine Art, 5864 Sunset Drive, South Miami, Florida
04/01/2011
Oriental Focus (Curated by Cece Saba)
Exhibited fine art photography photographed in Thailand
Sunset Fine Art, 5864 Sunset Drive, South Miami, Florida
03/18/2011
Art-Naples Contemporary Art Fair,Miami Wave
Exhibited composite painting from the Imagine Liberation Collection
Naples International Pavilion, Naples, Florida
12/02/2010
Miami Independent Thinkers, Miami Art Week
Exhibited photography and painting
Casa Wynwood, 2135 NW 1st Court, Miami, FL 33127
08/31/2010
International Art Fair [FIART] Exhibited giant sculpture “Lucky Link”
Dominican Republic’s Palace of Fine Arts
Avenida Maximo Gomez, Santo Domingo 10204, Dominican Republic
08/03/2010
Giants in the City: Exhibited large scale inflatable sculpture “Lucky Link”
Miami Beach Botanical Garden, 2000 Convention Ctr Dr. MB, FL 33139
07/08/2010
Wynwood Art Walk, Exhibited large format fine arts photography
Kavachnina Contemporary Gallery,
Wynwood, 46 NW 36th St. Miami FL,33127, Miami, Florida