Rogelio Báez
San Juan, PR, 1974
Biography Details
Painter, sculptor and creator of installations. In 2005, he obtains a Bachelor’s Degree of Visual Arts from the Universidad del Sagrado Corazón in San Juan, Puerto Rico. During the past 20 years, he has taken independent courses under the tutelage of artists such as Fran Cervoni and Amanda Carmona Bosch, and with Melanie Reign in the Dominican Republic. He is a founding member of The Storehouse Group, a gallery that provided a platform for emerging Puerto Rican artists to break into the international art market, and is founder of La corporación Artist Studios, which offered studio space to emerging artists. During the past years, his work has been part of exhibitions in Los Angeles, Miami, New York and Barcelona. In 2010, he was awarded first place at the 3er Certamen de Arte Joven of Oriental Bank and Trust of Puerto Rico. In 2011, he received the Beca Lexus para Artistas and exhibited his work at Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. He is characterized by his works of architectonic and urban lines by way of his paintings that represent gas stations and his tridimensional constructions that recreate scaled plans of cities.
Artist Statement
“In my paintings, photographs, sculptural objects and installations I strive to present how my approach towards the architecture of my immediate environment is disengaged. I am interested in the way the architectural landscape and the actions of the subordinated influences of the aesthetic experience affect me. These works are constructions and conceptions of generic architectural volumes which I find difficult to relate with in my daily trips through the island’s metropolis.
I have a special interest in the physical and psychological qualities of the architectural space, as well as its historical preeminence and its commercial relevance. In some pieces, it is inevitable that these conditions arise in their discourse. In general, my pieces are approached as experiments, of perception, recognition and manifestation which hide in the surface of everyday life.”
Rogelio Báez, 2012
Source: http://rogeliobaez.wordpress.com/
Formation
Education
2004-2005
- Bachelor’s in Art. Escuela de Artes Plásticas de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2003
- Studies under the tutelage of artista Melanie Reign. Altos de Chavón School of Design, La Romana, Dominican Republic
2003-2004
- Independent studies with artist Amanda Carmona Bosch. San Juan, Puerto Rico
1996-2002
- Studies in art. Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Professional Experience
2010-2011
- Exhibition arranger. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2009
- Exhibition arranger. FJ International, New York, United States
2008-2010
- Founder and co-director. La corporación Artist Studios, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007
- Art-handler. FJ International, New York, United States
2006-2008
- Art-handler. FJ International, Miami, Florida, United States
2006
- Founding member. The Storehouse Group, San Juan, Puerto Rico
1995-2004
- Cabinet maker and Librarian. Oficina de Administración de Tribunales, Centro Judicial, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Exhibitions
Solo Shows
2018
- Afecciones Temporales, KM0.2, Santurce, Puerto Rico
2017
- Colonial Suites, Museo de Arte y Diseño de Miramar, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2012
- En oposición: decomiso de un proyecto parte de Real / Ideal, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2011
- Land-Escapes, Área- lugar de proyectos, Caguas, Puerto Rico
2006
- Individuo, La Casa del Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2004
- 4 espacios, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Group Shows
2019 - Present
- Puerto Rico: Plural, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2020
- Temporal: Puerto Rican Resistance, Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Edición 25/25, Galería de Arte, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2019
- El espacio común, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Repensar la ciudad: colección Iris y José Hernández Castrodad, Museo y Centro de Estudios Humanísticos Dra. Josefina Camacho de la Nuez, Universidad del Turabo, Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Two man show with Mateo Galindo, MECA Art Fair, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2018
- Assets4 Artists Open Studios, Studios at Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, Massachusetts, United Stattes
2017
- Estructuras personales, with Cybelle Cartagena and Margarita Vincentí, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Out of Space, MECA Art Fair, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Mecanismos, MECA Art Fair, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- SIMULACRO, El Polvorín at Luis Muñoz Rivera Park, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 99+1=la centena, Galería de Arte, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, Santurce, Puerto Rico
2016
- In situ: Visiones del paisaje de las Grandes Antillas, Museo Pío López Martínez, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Cayey Campus, Cayey, Puerto Rico
2015
- BOOM: Design, Creativity and Innovation Fair, Second Edition, Ponce, Puerto Rico
2013
- SWAB Barcelona 2013, Tasart, FIRA, Barcelona, Spain
- Feria de Arte y Diseño, Galería Nacional, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Muestra Nacional de Arte, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Concrete Illusions: Public and Private Spaces in Puerto Rico, Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural and Educational Center, New York, United States
- Concrete Illusions: Public and Private Spaces in Puerto Rico, LA GALERÍA at Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Feria de Arte y Diseño, Edición Fiestas de la calle San Sebastián, Galería Nacional, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2012
- Scope New York, New York, United States
- Cart Watch, Scope New York, New York, United States
2011
- Tell As a Story, Santurce es Ley 3, Cart Watch, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Certamen de Fotografía Contemporánea, Galería de Arte, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Arte en El Medio: 35 Años de Fotografía en Puerto Rico, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Pocket, CartWatch, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Boricuas bestiales, La ENE-Nuevo Museo Energía de Arte Contemporáneo, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Nuevas Adquisiciones, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Serie Regional De Jugadores Pampers, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2010
- Relevos y Careos: 25 años del Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Certamen de Arte Joven, Galería 10, Oriental Bank and Trust, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Reivindicaciones, Sala de las Artes, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2009
- Muestra Nacional, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Santurce es Ley I, La corporación Artist Studios, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2008
- Cataño DC, Cataño, Puerto Rico
- Scope Miami, Scope Art Foundation, Miami, Florida, United States
2007
- Scope New York, Scope Art Foundation, Lincoln Center, Damrosch Park, New York, United States
- Objecthood, Hardcore Contemporary Gallery, Miami, Florida, United States
- P.S.A., LES Gallery, New York, United States
- The Dams 2, International Contemporary Group Show, Sala de las Artes, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2006
- Muestra Nacional, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Affordable Art: Contemporary Practices, The Storehouse Group, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Medios en pequeño formato, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Untitled, La Casa del Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
- Polverío, El polvorín, Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Photo L.A., Santa Mónica Civic Auditorium, Los Ángeles, California
- The Dams, PhotoMIAMI, SOHO Building, Wynwood, Miami, Florida
- Circa International Art Fair, Puerto Rico Convention Center, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2005
- Exposición inaugural, La Casa del Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Décimo aniversario 1995-2005, Galería de Arte, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Affordable Art, La Casa del Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Awards, Distinctions and Achievements
2019
- Emergency Grant. Pollock-Krasner Foundation, New York, United States
- Emergency Grant. Joan Mitchell Foundation, New York, United States
- Emergency Grant. Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Foundation, New York, United States
- Displaced Artist Fund Fellowship. Vermont Studio Center, Vermont, United States
- CERF+ Emergency Assistance Grant. Montpelier, Vermont, United States
2018
- Artistic Residency for Artists from Puerto Rico affected by Hurricane María. Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, Massachusetts, United States
2015
- Best Booth Design. BOOM: Design, Creativity and Innovation Fair, Ponce, Puerto Rico
2013
- Artistic Residency. Programa de Artes Plásticas y Programa de Museos y Parques, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2012
- Grant. Beca Lexus para Artistas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2011
- Honorable Mention. Certamen de Fotografía Contemporánea, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2010
- First Prize. 3er Certamen de Arte Joven, Oriental Bank and Trust, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Collections
- Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
- Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Oriental Bank & Trust, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- First Bank, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bibliography
Books
Nogueras, Celina. Frescos: 50 artistas puertorriqueños menores de 35. San Juan, PR: Muuaaa, 2010. pp. 350.
Newspapers
“Entregan becas Lexus para artistas”. Primera Hora (San Juan, PR), 4 de agosto de 2011.
Jiménez Martínez, Ingrid María. “El paraíso perdido”. Diálogo (San Juan, PR), marzo-abril 2010. P. 22.
Pérez Rivera, Tatiana. “Los 50 'frescos'”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 18 de diciembre de 2010, pp. 80-81.
Sjostrom, Jon. “Young, edgy artists get buzz at alternative fairs”. Palm Beach Daily News, (Palm Beach, FL), 9 de diciembre de 2006.
Toro, Ana Teresa. “El otro paisaje”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 7 de abril de 2011.
Toro, Ana Teresa. “Domina la pintura”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 12 de marzo de 2010, p. 82.
Toro, Ana Teresa. “Accesible comunión creadora”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 23 de junio de 2005, p. 7.
Magazines
Fontana, Lilia. “Trends. Aspects of Latin American contemporary art at Merrill Lynch Art Americas. A curatorial project since 2003 in Miami”. The Art Magazine Wynwood, (Miami, FL), 2008.
Herrera, Adriana. “Las sorpresas de MNA de Puerto Rico”. Art Nexus, (Miami, FL), Abril-Mayo 2007. Núm. 64, Vol. 6. pp. 155.
“The store house group: ptoyecto de autogestión puertorriqueño”, Art Premium, Marzo- Abril 2007. Núm. 18. Vol. 4.pp. 8.
Web
Charo Henríquez, Joe Coscarelli, Michael Paulson, Jennifer Schuessler. “El arte, otra forma de reconstruir la vida tras el huracán”, 21 de septiembre de 2018, The New York Times (Nueva York, EEUU). https://www.nytimes.com/es/2018/09/21/espanol/america-latina/huracan-mar...
Hanley, William. “Armory Week: Growing up with scope”, 3 de diciembre de 2007, Bouling Art Info. http://www.blouinartinfo.com/news/story/24468/armory-week-growing-up-wit...
Jiménez, Ingrid. “La profesora de Historia y Teoría de Arte Contemporáneo, Ingrid María Jiménez Martínez reflexiona sobre las posibilidades que tienen los cuadros de Rogelio Báez de repensar nuestro paisaje isleño al en ellos no aparecer una iconografía asociada con el trópico", 7 de abril de 2010. Diálogo Digital. http://dialogodigital.com/index.php/Dialogo/Desafio/Desafio/El-paraiso-p...
Scope New York. 2012. http://scope-art.com/shows/new-york-2012/programs/
Segarra, Abdiel. “Documentación – Land Escapes – exhibición individual de Rogelio Báez Vega”, 17 de abril de 2011. ConBoca. http://www.conboca.org/2011/04/17/documentacion-land-escapes-exhibicion-...
The Dams 2. 2007. http://repuestoweb.org/?paged=10
Weinstein, Joel. “La Tierra Tiembla”, Rotund World. Episode 25. Marzo 2007. http://rworld.thenextfewhours.com/25th_Edition/index.html