Quintín Rivera Toro
Caguas, PR, 1978
Biography Details
Multidisciplinary artist. He holds a B.F.A. in Sculpture from Hunter College in New York, USA (2001); a B.A. in Communications and Film from the University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras campus (2007); an M.F.A. in Sculpture from the Rhode Island School of Design in Providence, Rhode Island, USA (2013); and a Ph.D. in Art Production and Research from the Polytechnic University of Valencia in Spain (2019). He has been an artist-in-residence at the Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont; the National Academy of Design in New York City; the Ox-Bow School of Art, S.A.I.C., in Saugatuck, Michigan; U.A.G.M., Gurabo campus; the Mass MoCA Studios; and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. The New York Times has described Quintín's work as "Impressive contemporary art," and he was also named by Refinery 29 as part of the "Top 10 list of rising NYC art stars," selected by curator Casey Fremont. In 2023, his "Strong Painting - Future" was awarded the Bassat Foundation Acquisition Prize in Barcelona, Spain.
Artist Statement
"My current investigation is the exploration of self designed, staged actions, through performance, sculpture, installation, theatrics and audience participation.
The conceptual process consists of reacting to social events through my individual experience, often resulting in the visual investigation of isolated, self-absorbed imagery or quite radically the opposite, resulting in commentary and interaction with the social collective. I utilize myself as a case study with the premise that any reactions I have to these social events, psychological or physical, affect my behavior as an everyday citizen, therefore possibly describing mass behavior.
I understand contemporary art and contemporary art history to have a type of kinship with the idea of truth, usually camouflaged by the complexities of inherent human contradictions, which make concepts all the more interesting. I choose to represent with a rational approach experiences which are emotional, an effort to verbalize and categorize the instinct."
Quintín Rivera Toro, 2021
Formation
Education
2019
- Doctorate Degree in Art Production and Investigation. Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Spain
2013
- Master of Sculpture. Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
2007
- Bachelor of Communications. Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2001
- Bachelor of Sculpture. Hunter College, New York, United States
Experiencia Profesional
2018-2020
- Curator. Puerto Rico, Mexico, United States, Spain
2017
- Juror. Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Nebraska, United States
- Juror. Architecture Photography Contest, School of Architecture, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Puerto Rico
2014
- Juror. Installation/3D Sculpture Fellowship, Connecticut Office for the Arts, Connecticut, United States
2013
- Director. AREA, Lugar de Proyectos, Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Jury. Rhode Island State Council of Arts, Rhode Island College Fine Art Center, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
Exhibitions
Solo Shows
2020
- Salvanomía, Museo y Centro de Estudios Humanísticos, Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Gurabo, Puerto Rico
2019
- La Novísima Declaración, Pública, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2018
- Sol Boricua, Universidad del Turabo, Gurabo, Puerto Rico
2017
- En la Unión, Municipio de Cintalapa de Figueroa, Chiapas, México
2016
- Trabaje duro, Museo del Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2015
- Sin Señal, Espacio Galería 304, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2014
- Manda Podere, AS 220 Gallery, Rhode Island, United States
2013
- Percussions/ Repercussions, Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Summer Grid, Institute for Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, Chicago, Illinois, United States
2012
- Business As Usual, Yellow Peril Gallery, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
- Summer Grid, Yellow Peril Gallery, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
2011
- The Bridge – Public art Project, Dexter Field, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
- Allafuera, La Metro- Plataforma Organizada, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2010
- Sobre el miedo y otros problemas del inconsciente colectivo, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2008
- Performing a vivir: el soundtrack aleatorio, Galería de Arte, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2006
- Quintín Rivera Toro: Atmospherics, 280 Cubic Feet Gallery, Minnesota State University, Minnesota, United States
2005
- Un espacio libre, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
Group Shows
2020
- JUNTXS: Colección Hernández Castrodad, Museo de Arte y Diseño de Miramar, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Despierta Verano 2020, Urbe Apie Gallery, Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Acervo, Historia y Futuro, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
- #Confinamiento, Perfo-Red MX, Virtual exhibition
- #Confinamiento, Building Bridges Art Exchange, Virtual Exhibition
- Poética Masculina desde el Encierro, Virtual Exhibition
- El caso de Puerto Rico, HYBRID FEST, Madrid, Spain
2019
- Muestra Nacional, Instituto de Cultura, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Habitar, Museo y Centro de Estudios Humanísticos, Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Gurabo Campus, Gurabo Puerto Rico
- Tropicalia, Urbe Apie Gallery, Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Repensar la ciudad, Museo y Centro de Estudios Humanísticos, Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Recinto de Gurabo, Gurabo, Puerto Rico
- El sujeto develado, Museo Dr. Pío López, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Cayey, Cayey, Puerto Rico
2018
- El cuerpo y la ciudad, Tegucigalpa, Honduras
- Hable español, Espacio Tres50, Chiapas, Mexico
- Contemporánea Internacional, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Código 24: Obras en pequeño formato, Trinitaria Gallery, Ponce, Puerto Rico
- Correspondencia/Correspondence, El Lobi, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Almacén de Arte, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2017
- SENSE: Art in Odd Places, Public art on 14th street, New York, United States
- Perspectiva de género, Museo de arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Control, REM Project, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Más allá de la capucha, Casa de los contrafuertes, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Polinizados, Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, Spain
- 99+1=la centena, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Pareidolia y Promesa, REM Project, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Ida y Vuelta, Museo de Historia, Antropología y Arte, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Reading Room, El Lobi, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- DVDanza, 12 Festival internacional de video danza, Fábrica de arte cubano, La Habana, Cuba
2016
- #makeamericagreatagain, White Box Gallery, New York, United States
- Under Construction, Unisex Salon Gallery, New York, United States
- Bellwether Sculpture Exhibition, Bellevue Down Town Park, Washington, United States
- When We Think of Tourists, The Open Aperture Art Gallery, Rhode Island, United States
- Artz Cure Sarcoma, Benefit Auction at Corkbuzz, New York, United States
- In situ, Museo Pío López Martínez, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Cayey Campus, Cayey, Puerto Rico
2015
- Looking Forward, Looking Back Gallery Tally and New Mexico Museum of Art, New Mexico, United States
- Shape Shifters, Bulart Gallery, Varna, Bulgaria
- Cromática: Caguas a color, Plaza Plamer, Caguas, Puerto Rico
- 6to Festival Internacional de Video Arte, Camagüey, Cuba
- Prólogo a un objeto, ÁREA lugar de proyectos, Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Irrational City, Bath House Cultural Center - Dallas, Texas, United States
- Por la libre II, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Burning Down the House, Jamestown Arts Center, Jamestown, Rhode Island, United States
- XX Aniversario, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Muestra Nacional, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Rastreos, REM Project Gallery, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- En Tránsito, Matadero Art, Espacio Fundación Arana, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- FRESCOS, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2014
- Season 1 Video Program, The Dean Hotel, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
- Playing With Fire: Political Interventions, Dissident Acts and Mischievous Actions, Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
- SCOPE Art Basel, SCOPE Art Basel, Yellow Peril Gallery, Miami, Florida, United States
- Discerning Eyes, New Bedford Art Museum, Rhode Island, United States
- Henri Klumb: la casa en ti y en mí, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Puerto Rico
- Cosas, Museo del Arsenal, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Cultural Hegemony, SCOPE New York, Yellow Peril Gallery, New York, Unites States
- Un Bonito Flamboyán, La Jardinera, Recinto Cerra, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Season 1 Video Program, The Dean Hotel, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
- The Divisions of Labor, Cutlog Art Fair, Yellow Peril Gallery, New York, United States
- 15 meses, Espacio Dobleó, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Universos Paralelos,Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, Puerto Rico
- Universos Paralelos, Universidad de Salamanca, Spain
- Interconexiones, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- abc Vol.3, Espacio 20/20, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2013
- Model Minority, Yellow Peril Gallery, SCOPE, Miami, Florida, United States
- It Doesn’t Show Signs of Stopping, AS 220, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
- Hybrida Art Festival, Espacio Las Naves, Valencia, Spain
- Witness Tree, Museum and Library of Congress, Hyde Park, United States
- R.I.S.D. Thesis Graduation, Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
- USAo, REM Galería, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Región 0, Centro Rey Juan Carlos, New York University, New York, United States
- Vial, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Colectiva 1, Espacio Dobleó, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Heavy, Sol Koffler Gallery, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
2012
- Operating System, Sylvia Wald an Po Kim Gallery, New York, United States
- Show me your glands, NARS Foundation, Brooklyn, New York, United States
- Smart Action, Hostos Community College, New York, United States
- Concrete Illusions, Villa Victoria Arts Center, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- IV Semana de Vídeo Iberoamericana, Filmoteca de Andalucía, Andalucía, Spain
- Do You Think I Care?, Gelman Gallery, Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Rhode Island, United States
- Personal Culture - Gelman Gallery, Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Rhode Island, United States
- Come Here, I Need You, Rhode Island School of Design Museum, Rhode Island, United States
- Archivos de lo efímero, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Artistas Boricuas Contemporáneos, Trailer Park Projects, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Trienal Poligráfica de San Juan, América Latina y el Caribe, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2011
- Arte en el medio, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Signos Vitales, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Historia Urbanas, Centro Cultural Casa Tejas Verdes, Havana, Cuba
- Preámbulo, Universidad del Turabo, Gurabo, Puerto Rico
- Diversity Exhibit, Warwick Art Museum, Warwick, Rhode Island, United States
- Egofilia: Narcicismos y Bizarrerías, CART WATCH, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Dallas Art Fair, Dean Project Gallery, Dallas, Texas, United States
2010
- Recent Acquisitions of the Latin American Collection, The Museum of Art, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, United States
- Everyone Has a Different View, Nottingham Play House, London, England
- Mobile Spaces, University of Madison, Wisconsin, United States
- Hair Tactics, Jersey City Museum, New Jersey, United States
- ZONA MACO, Dean Project Gallery, Centro Banamex, Mexico City, Mexico
- CIRCA 10, Walter Otero Gallery, Centro de Convenciones de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Serie Regional de Jugadores Pampers, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Puerto Rico: Geografía Humana, Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico; Smithsonian Institution, Washington DC, United States
2009
- Nostalgia Futuro/Homenaje Renau, Centre del Carme, Valencia, Spain
- Facing Locality, Caribbean Museum Center for the Arts, Santa Cruz, Virgin Islands
- Muestra Nacional de Arte Puertorriqueño, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Trienal Poligráfica de San Juan, América Latina y el Caribe, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- PINTA 09, Dean Project Gallery, Met Pavilion, Altman Building, New York, United States
- CIRCA 09, Walter Otero Gallery, Centro de Convenciones de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2008
- Garden of Delights, Yeosu International Arts Festival Biennial, Yeosu, South Korea
- III Ciclo de video arte Latinoamericano, Instituto Valenciano de Arte Moderno, Valencia, Spain
- Cataño DC, Cataño, Puerto Rico
- Art of Democracy, ÁREA, lugar de proyectos, Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Colectivo Angora, Municipio Autónomo de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
- Terruño y paraíso perdido, Museo de Arte de Caguas, Caguas, Puerto Rico
- PINTA 08, Metropolitan Pavilion, Altman Building, New York, United States
- CIRCA 08, Walter Otero Gallery, Centro de Convenciones de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007
- The Building Show, Exit Art, New York, United States
- America's Paradise and Isla del Encanto, School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Sonotube(r), Santa Barbara Contemporary Arts Forum, Santa Barbara, California, United States
- Enfrentamientos, Museo Antropológico y de Arte Contemporáneo, Guayaquil, Ecuador
- VI Salón de dibujo, Museo de Arte Moderno de Santo Domingo, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
- Introspectiva/Awilda Sterling, Teatro Arriví, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Terruño y paraíso perdido, Cuartel de Ballajá, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Sucio Difícil: Los 70 - performance, Teatro Yerbabruja, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- En tiempos de video, Galería 356, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Optika 2, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Mayagüez Campus, Mayagüez, Puerto Rico
- CIRCA 07, Walter Otero Gallery, Centro de Convenciones de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2006
- The (S) Files Biennial, El Museo del Barrio, New York, United States
- The Fourth Floor, Western Exhibitions Gallery, Chicago, Illinois, United States
- No Man Is An Island, Open Gallery, Art School, New Jersey, United States
- Pantalla Breve - video experimental, San Juan Cinemafest, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Nuevas voces en el arte video, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- The Happiest Peeps - public installation, 303 Tetuán, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Windows on Main Street, Beacon, New York, United States
- CIRCA 06, Walter Otero Gallery, Centro de Convenciones de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2005
- More or less 3,480 Seconds, Gallery 3175, San Francisco, California, United States
- 05982:01 Montevideo Digital, Fundación de Arte Contemporáneo, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Flow: Navigating the Super Paradigm, Bulldog Studios, Beacon, New York, United States
- Now Playing, The Iron Fish Trading Company, Beacon, New York, United States
- Muestra Nacional de Arte, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Becas Lexus para artistas, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Polverío, El polvorín, Parque Luis Muñoz Rivera, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- REWIND REWIND, Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina Española, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- La gran feria de marzo, =DESTO, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Awards, Distinctions and Achievements
2020
- Artistic Residence. Mass Moca, Massachusetts, United States
- Emergency fund. KM 0.2, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Artist Relief Grant. Artist Relief, United States Artists, United States
- Visual Artist Relief Fund. Betancourt-Latorre Foundation, Florida, United States
2019
- Artistic Residence. Universidad Ana G. Méndez, Gurabo, Puerto Rico
- Artistic Residence. Universidad del Turabo, Gurabo, Puerto Rico
2017
- Artistic Residence. Universidad del Turabo, Gurabo, Puerto Rico
2015
- Artistic Residence. Soaring Gardens, Ora Lerman Charitable Trust, Laceyville, Pennsylvania
2014
- Fellowship Merit Award. Rhode Island State Council of Arts, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
2012
- Community Development Award. West Broadway Neighborhood Association, Providence, Rhode Island, United States
2011
- Scholarship. Sylvia Leslie Young Herman Scholarship Award, Rhode Island School of Design, Rhode Island, United States
- First Prize. Contemporary Photography Competition, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Honorable Mention. Foto MAC, Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2010
- Achievement Scholarship. Transart Institute, Berlin, Germany
2009
- Residency. Ox Bow School of Art, Saugatauck, Michigan, United States
- Special Mention. Certamen de Arte Oriental Bank, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2007
- Recognition. Art Person of the Year, Periódico El Nuevo Día, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2006
- Award. International Association of Art Critics, Puerto Rico Chapter, San Juan, Puerto Rico
2005
- Residency. Escuela Internacional de Teatro de Latinoamérica y el Caribe, Cuernavaca, Mexico
- Grant. Beca Lexus para Artistas, San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Nomination. Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Grant, New York, United States
2003
- Internship. Chianti Foundation, Marfa, Texas, United States
2002
- Grant. DAAD Travel Grant, German Academic Exchange Service, Germany
- Fellowship. Artist Full Fellowship Award, Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, Vermont, United States
- Scholarship. Richard M. Kaye Scholarship Award, Hunter College, New York, United States
- Grant. Edwin Austin Abbey Grant, National Academy of Design, New York, United States
Collections
- Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Bibliography
Catalogues
Sobre el Miedo y otros problemas de inconsciente colectivo, Museo de las Américas, San Juan, Puerto Rico, 2010.
Newspapers
Rodríguez, Jorge. “Dibujos en Museo de Arte de Caguas buscando la figura”. El Vocero (San Juan, PR), 9 de agosto de 2000, p. 15
Aponte, Tomás Miguel. “Presenta Un espacio libre”. La Semana (Caguas, PR), 20 de enero de 2005, p. 58.
Rodríguez, Jorge. “Intervenciones públicas y otros atavismos”. El Vocero (San Juan, PR), 13 de enero de 2005, p. E4.
Rodríguez, Jorge. “Arte Público, publicaciones y un acto comunitario”. El Vocero (San Juan, PR), 30 de diciembre de 2004, p. 93.
Rodríguez, Jorge. “Inaugura exposición de Lexus para las Artes”. El Vocero (San Juan, PR), p. 79.
Pérez Rivera, Tatiana. “El cielo: un espacio libre”. El Nuevo Día, Arte y Cultura (San Juan, PR), 13 de enero de 2005.
Toro Ortíz, Ana Teresa. “Area de encuentros y desencuentros”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 19 de marzo de 2006, pp.26-27
“Nueva Savia en el MAC”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 31 de agosto de 2006, p. 94.
“Una mente inquieta”. El Nuevo Día (San Juan, PR), 15 de septiembre de 2008, pp. 64-65.
Magazines
“Reviews”. ArtNexus, No. 77, Vol. 9, 2010, p. 117.
Web
“Goodman LAtin American Collection”, http://artdistricts.com/goodman-latin-american-collection/