Artist: Juan Barroso
My work is about Mexican labor and the plight, struggle, hope, and heritage of Mexican immigrants. With the current political administration enforcing policies that dehumanize and force immigrants into the shadows, recognizing an immigrant’s humanity is vital. Notions of us or them deteriorate and it becomes clear that we are all working and fighting to provide a shelter and a decent meal for ourselves, and often a family. As the son of immigrant parents, I hope to pay homage to my people and the dignity of their labor. I mix 2-dimensional imagery, influenced by personal narratives, with 3-dimensional functional forms.
Using a small brush, I paint images with black underglaze on functional vessels. I use a pointillism technique because the process is time-consuming and labor intensive. The process, with time invested, becomes an act of devotion.
After the imagery is painted on bisqueware, I bisque again to set the image and avoid smearing the underglaze. I protect the images with liquid latex and airbrush a clear glaze on the rest of the piece. I make the work permanent and functional by firing to cone 10 in an electric kiln.
EDUCATION
University of North Texas, Denton, Texas
- August 2017-May 2020
- MFA in Ceramics
University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma
- August 2012- May 2016
- BFA Studio Art- Ceramics
AWARDS
Ceramics Monthly Emerging Artist in May 2020
Exemplary TA Award (UNT Fall 2018)
TF positions at the University of North Texas
- Beginning Throwing (spring 2020)
- Beginning Throwing (Fall 2019)
- Beginning Ceramics (Spring 2019)
- taught hand-building and throwing techniques
TA positions at the University of North Texas
- Drawing I (Fall 2019)
- Explained Learning goals and demonstrated art techniques in two lab sections relevant to projects assigned by main lecturer, Rachel Black
- Contour line, sighting/measuring proportions, shading value, drapery
- Drawing I (Spring 2019)
- Drawing I (Fall 2018)
- Drawing II (Spring 2018)
- Explained learning goals and demonstrated art techniques in two lab sections relevant to projects assigned by main lecturer, Elaine Pawlowicz
- Soft pastel and figure drawing techniques
- Drawing I (Fall 2017)
EXHIBITIONS
2021
“Across Borders” group show at High Point University, February 1st -February 26th
“Mug Madness” at Saltstone Ceramics, March 1st-28th
“Last Call VI” at Companion Gallery", March 5th
“Small Favors 2021” at The Clay Studio, March 5th
“Cups With A Conscience” at Gallery One, March 5-27th
“Above Board” NCECA virtual group exhibition, March 17
“Calling to Who We Are” NCECA virtual group show, March 19th
“Pairings” at Carbondale Clay Center, May 7th-29th
“Yunomi 2021” at ClayAKAR, June 18th
“Ceramic Storytellers” at Red Lodge Clay Center, August 6-28th
2019
Companion Gallery’s “Collaborative Companions” Group Show
2018
Companion Gallery’s “Last Call III” Juried Exhibition, March 2-April 15th
Companion Gallery’s “Collaborative Companions” Group Show, March 22
Charlie Cummings Gallery “Functional Canvas III” group show, May 12-June 12
South Texas College “A South Texas Ceramics Showdown 2018: Continued Connections. Variable Directions.”, June 4-July 5
Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council’s 30th juried art Exhibition, 1st place for my painting “A People that Dance Without Legs”, July 27-Agust 27
Companion Gallery’s “Material Nugs III: Underglaze” juried Exhibition, September 7-26
Oklahoma Comtemporary “Celebration of Latino Culture” invitational show, October 20-Nov 2
El Comalito Collective Gallery “Encounters/Encuentros” Group Show, November 9-December 9
Objective Clay “Annual Holiday Sale” Group Show, Nov 26-December 14
2017
Verum Ultimum Gallery “Mugshots” juried exhibition, March 23rd in Portland, Oregon
Companion Gallery “Last Call II” juried exhibition, March 3-31 in Humboldt, Tennessee
Clay Art Vegas “Images on clay” Juried Exhibition, April, in Vegas, Nevada
The Plunge “Scorched Earth: Subversive Ceramics” group exhibition, May 3-28 at the Paseo Arts District in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Texarkana’s Regional Arts and Humanities Council’s 29th Annual juried Exhibition, Texarkana, Texas
Main Street Arts Gallery “The Cup, The Mug”, December 2
2016
Red Clay Faction Exhibition, University of Oklahoma
“Reina del Sur” and “Pulque vessel of Netzahualcoyotl” on display in the Lightwell Gallery, April 2016
Momentum OKC 2016
“Pulque vessel of Netzahualcoyotl” selected in the show hosted by Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, March 4-7, 2016