Cristina Córdova
Boston, USA, 1972
Biography Details
Sculptor and ceramist. Earned a Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in Fine Arts from the University of Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus in 1998. During the summer of 1999 she finished courses at Touchtone School of Crafts in Farmington, Pennsylvania. That same summer she completed courses at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine. Later, she began studies as a special student in independent studies at the New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred University. She was supervised by Wayne Higby and Walter McConnell. In 2000 she earned a scholarship to Alfred University for her Master’s Degree in ceramics which she completed in 2002. After graduating she was selected to serve as a Resident Artist at Penland School of Crafts in North Carolina. Córdova moved to Penland in 2002, to participate in the residency. After completing her residency she and her family made their home and studio on the institution’s campus. She works across from the Penland Gallery where she shares a studio with her husband, Pablo Soto, who is a glass working artist. She travels often to Puerto Rico and exhibits and teaches internationally.
Artist Statement
"I don't think about anguish when I work. I try to create a beauty not super accessible. Beauty, for me, is a very complex term and if it is real it is not revealed instantly. I try to create counterpoint and attraction through pieces that at first seem a little grotesque, strong and that perhaps, the person will have a hard time keeping the piece. But once it’s kept, it starts providing levels of sensations, like a symphony of emotions, and the totality of that creates an experience, and that's what interests me".
Source: Sanz de Arellano López, Isabel. Cristina Córdova, Entre] [Tierra, Imagen magazine, May, 2009.
Formation
Education
2005
- Extracurricular Courses. Florence Academy of Art, Florence, Italy
2002
- Master of Fine Arts, mayor in Ceramics. New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University, Alfred, New York, United States
1999-2000
- Special Student. New York State College of Ceramics, Alfred University, Alfred, New York, United States
1999
- Extracurricular Courses. Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Maine, United States
1998
- Bachelor of Arts. Colegio de Agricultura y Artes Mecánicas, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
Professional Experience
2013
- Juror with Richard Notkin and Namita Wiggers. National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) Biennial, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC), Huston, Texas, United States
2012
- Workshop Instructor. Work Intensive III : Figuration, Ceramic Arts Workshop, California State University, Long Beach, California, United States
2011
- Workshop Instructor. "Ultrafiguración", Ceramic Arts Workshop, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Founder. TravelArte (Offering educational experiences within a given art/craft medium while immersing students in the creative culture of a particular geographical setting)
2006-2010
- Trustee. Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina, United States
2010
- Workshop Instructor. Workshop of figurative sculpture. Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Deer Isle, Maine, United States
2009
- Visiting Artist. University of North Carolina, School of the Arts, Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States
2008
- Workshop Instructor. Workshop "Corporal", Penland School of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina, United States
2007
- Workshop Instructor. Workshop "Figurative Intuition”, Mudfire, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Exhibitions
Solo Shows
2010
- Mancha, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, United States
2009
- ENTRE][TIERRA, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2008
- Cristina Córdova, Hodges Taylor Gallery, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
2007
- Hacia otro mar, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Paseantes, The Signature Shop and Gallery, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
2006
- Fabulas de la Fascinacion II, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Hodges Taylor Gallery, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
2005
- Mito y Enteanatomía, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Enteanatomía, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2004
- Cristina Cordova: Mitomemoria, WDO Gallery, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
- Mito, memoria y lluvia, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2003
- Bajo Faldas y entre cabezas, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2002
- De mujeres santas y renacimientos, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2000
- Recent Ceramic Sculpture, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Group Shows
2012
- Interconexiones: Lecturas curatoriales de la Colección del MAPR, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2011
- Bestiario, Morean Arts Center, St. Petersburg, Florida, United States
2010
- SOFA Chicago, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Muestra Nacional de Artes Plásticas, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Contiguous, Crimson Laurel Gallery, Bakersville, North Carolina, United States
- A Show of Heads, Cinema Gallery, Urbana, Illinois, United States
2009
- SOFA Chicago, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, United States
2008
- Possibilities: Rising Stars of Contemporary Craft in North Carolina, Mint Museum of Craft + Design, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
2007
- "Variation", SOFA Chicago, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, United States
2006
- SOFA Chicago, Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- Cauces Invisibles, Blue Spiral, Asheville, North Carolina, United States
- Muestra Nacional de Artes Plásticas, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Palm Beach 3, Ann Nathan Gallery, Palm Beach, Florida, United States
2005
- Vanitas, Lacoste Gallery, Concord, Massachusetts, United States
- School's Out, Community College of Baltimore County, Cantonsville Gallery, Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Armory Arts Center Figurative Invitational Exhibition, Armory Arts Center, Palm Beach, Florida, United States
- SOFA Chicago, Ann Nathan Gallery, Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois, United States
2004
- Penland School of Crafts: Contemporary Traditions, SOFA Chicago, Navy Pier, Chicago Illinois, United States
- SOFA Chicago, Ann Nathan Gallery, Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- SOFA NY, Ann Nathan Gallery, New York, United States
2003
- Muestra Nacional de Arte, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- SOFA Chicago, Ann Nathan Gallery, Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- SOFA NY, Ann Nathan Gallery, New York, United States
- Penland Resident Artists Show, Penland Gallery, Penland, North Carolina, United States
- Transformation 4: Contemporary Works in Ceramics, Elizabeth Raphael Prize Finalists Show, Society for Contemporary Craft, Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, United States
2002
- MFA Thesis Exhibition: Cristina Cordova, Dragica Suskind and Brian Gillis, Posdick Nelson Gallery, Alfred University, Alfred, New York, United States
- Artists in Wonderland, Digital exhibition curated by Pedro Pachano, Bronx River Arts Center, Bronx, New York, United States
- Graduates, Blue Heron Gallery, Deer Isle, Maine, United States
2001
- Encuentro: Cristina Córdova y Mercedita Andrew, Pamil Fine Art, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Awards, Distinctions and Achievements
2012
- Selected for “40 Under 40: Craft Futures”. The Renwick Gallery Of The Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington DC, United States
- Commission Recipient. Project 10/10/10 Permanent Collection, Mint Museum of Craft and Design, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
2010
- Recognition Award. Virginia Groot Foundation, Evanston, Illinois, United States
- Best of Charlotte 2009. Charlotte Arts & Entertainment Critics’ Picks, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
2009
- Best Art Exhibit: Cristina Córdova At Hodges Taylor. Creative Loafing Arts and Entertainment Magazine, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
2008
- Best Ceramic Sculpture Exhibition Award, “Hacia Otro Mar”. International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2002-2005
- Resident Artist. Penland School Of Crafts, Penland, North Carolina, United States
Collections
- Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Renwick Gallery of The Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington DC, United States
- Fuller Craft Museum, Brockton, Massachusetts, United States
- Mint Museum of Craft + Design, Charlotte, North Carolina, United States
- Mobile Museum of Art, Mobile, Alabama, United States
- Joseph -Schein Museum, New York, United States
- Gretchen Keyworth, Society of Arts & Crafts, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Bibliography
Books
Tourtillot, Suzanne. “The Figure in Clay", Lark Books, 2005.
Gunther, Veronica Alice. “500 Figures in Clay”, Lark Books, 2004.
Newspapers
“Creadora de enigmas”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 14 de diciembre del 2007.
Feaster, Felicia. “Cristina Cordova: Magic Realism”. Creative Loafing (Atlanta, GA), Mayo 2007.
Camper, Fred. “Body Language”. Chicago Reader (Chicago, IL), Mayo 2005.
Lucas, Scott. “Dark Horse”. Creative Loafing (North Carolina, USA), Mayo 2004.
Trelles, Rafael. “Cristina Córdova: Mito, memoria y lluvia”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), marzo 2004.
Alegre Barrios, Mario. “Enamorada de la cerámica”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 2003.
Álvarez Lezama, Manuel. “Celebración Femenina”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 2002.
Rodríguez, Jorge. “Cristina Córdova: Mujeres Santas y Renacimientos". El Vocero (San Juan, PR), 2001.
Álvarez Lezama, Manuel. “Cerámica Escultural". El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 2000.
Magazines
O’hern, John. “Art Market Insights: Art at the Crossroads”. American Art Collector, Issue 39, January 2010.
Sanz de Arellano López, Isabel. “Cristina Córdova: Entre] [Tierra”. Revista Imagen (San Juan, PR), mayo 2000.
García Benítez, Mariana. “Umbral de lo surreal”, Arq.i.tec 3.4, junio 2009.
Dobbs Ariail, Kate. “Possibilities: Rising Stars of Contemporary Craft in North Carolina". American Craft Magazine, October/November 2008.
Schultz, Katey; Hillman, Linda. “From the Inside Out- Two Views on the Creation and Experience of Cristina Cordova's Clay Sculptures". Ceramics Art in Perception, 2006.
Dobbs Ariail, Kate. “Reviews: Cristina Cordova". American Craft, September/August 2006.
Shearing, Graham. “Transformation”. American Craft, June/July 2004.
Xiaoping, Luo. “My Experiences and Impressions". Sculpture, vol. 23, 2000.