Title
Emplacement
Subject
Dominick Cocozza (b. 2001, Mazatenango, Guatemala) is a Guatemalan-American artist based in Arlington, VA. His artistic practice aims to expand societal perceptions of Latinx culture, indigenous ancestry, and home. In foregrounding his transracial adoptee identity, he sheds light on adoptee narratives, cultural hybridity, and cultivating inclusive communities.
His works have been included in group exhibitions at The Pantheon Institute in Rome, Italy; Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, DC; The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC; United States Capitol Building in Washington, DC; RISD Museum Gelman Gallery in Providence, RI; RISD Memorial Hall Gallery in Providence, RI; The Providence Art Club in Providence, RI; 82Parris Exhibition Space in Portland, ME; Yellow Barn Studio and Gallery in Glen Echo, MD; The Cherokee Town & Country Club Art Collection Space in Atlanta, GA; Radford University Art Museum in Radford, VA and the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. Most recently he was named a finalist in the 16th International Art Renewal Center (ARC) salon and received the Highly Commended Award Scholarship from The National Society of Arts and Letters Washington, DC, chapter. He attended Palette22’s artist residency program during July and August 2023.
Artwork: Emplacement (48 x 42 in | oil and wax on canvas)
Video link https://www.dcocozzastudios.com/videos
His works have been included in group exhibitions at The Pantheon Institute in Rome, Italy; Smithsonian Hirshhorn Museum in Washington, DC; The Phillips Collection in Washington, DC; United States Capitol Building in Washington, DC; RISD Museum Gelman Gallery in Providence, RI; RISD Memorial Hall Gallery in Providence, RI; The Providence Art Club in Providence, RI; 82Parris Exhibition Space in Portland, ME; Yellow Barn Studio and Gallery in Glen Echo, MD; The Cherokee Town & Country Club Art Collection Space in Atlanta, GA; Radford University Art Museum in Radford, VA and the Torpedo Factory Art Center in Alexandria, VA. Most recently he was named a finalist in the 16th International Art Renewal Center (ARC) salon and received the Highly Commended Award Scholarship from The National Society of Arts and Letters Washington, DC, chapter. He attended Palette22’s artist residency program during July and August 2023.
Artwork: Emplacement (48 x 42 in | oil and wax on canvas)
Video link https://www.dcocozzastudios.com/videos
Description
"My Guatemalan rag dolls speak to the narratives of transracial adoption and in finding cultural belonging. These paintings are bold, prismatic, and the figures confront the spaces around them. Do the surrounding environments control the figures or vice versa, whose autonomy is prioritized?
My work speaks to the beautiful vibrancies within Guatemalan clothing, indigenous craft-making, and ancestral traditions. I directly engage in these discourses of indigenous craft as a way to explore contemporary representations of these textiles and empower Native communities. The specificity of the Guatemalan textiles transforms generalizations of cultural iconography to cultivate meaningful dialogue."
As a Guatemalan-Adoptee my works are in discourse with other adoptee narratives and living within various cultural identity spaces. In using the doll as an extension of tangible textiles and representation of contemporary Guatemala, my artistic practice serves as a form of celebration and reconnecting with my indigenous roots. Additionally, my practice seeks to humanize love, tragedy, and displacement as integral in current positioning of indigenous Guatemalan culture."
My work speaks to the beautiful vibrancies within Guatemalan clothing, indigenous craft-making, and ancestral traditions. I directly engage in these discourses of indigenous craft as a way to explore contemporary representations of these textiles and empower Native communities. The specificity of the Guatemalan textiles transforms generalizations of cultural iconography to cultivate meaningful dialogue."
As a Guatemalan-Adoptee my works are in discourse with other adoptee narratives and living within various cultural identity spaces. In using the doll as an extension of tangible textiles and representation of contemporary Guatemala, my artistic practice serves as a form of celebration and reconnecting with my indigenous roots. Additionally, my practice seeks to humanize love, tragedy, and displacement as integral in current positioning of indigenous Guatemalan culture."
Creator
Dominick Cocozza