Sarasota Review

The Sarasota Art Museum of Ringling College of Art and Design is currently hosting "Juana Valdés: Embodied Memories, Ancestral Histories," an exhibition running from October 22, 2023, to February 11, 2024. This marks Juana Valdés' first solo museum exhibition. Her work explores themes such as migration history, representation, subjectivity, and materiality.

Virginia Shearer, executive director of the Sarasota Art Museum, expressed enthusiasm for the exhibition: “We are delighted to showcase Juana’s world-renowned works in her first solo museum exhibition.” She added that the artworks resonate with many community members who have lived similar experiences.

Valdés' art addresses gender issues and the representation of the feminine body. It invites reflection on topics like colonialism's legacy and race. As a woman of color living in the United States, these themes are personal to Valdés.

Her choice of materials ranges from traditional ceramics to new media. This variety allows her to communicate personal ideas while challenging conventional art standards. Her audiovisual work serves as an archive exploring transnationalism, migration, race, gender discrimination at work, and Latinx discourse.

Francine Birbragher-Rozencwaig curated the exhibition. She noted its significance: “I am excited for Juana to present her first one-artist show representative of 30 years of her life and work.” The exhibition takes place in Florida where Valdés arrived as a Cuban immigrant at seven years old.

The Sarasota Art Museum organized this exhibition with support from Sarasota County Tourist Development Tax revenues. The museum focuses on contemporary artists and offers various programs related to current exhibitions.

For more information about "Embodied Memories, Ancestral Histories," visit sarasotaartmuseum.org/juana-valdes.