Puerto Rico

Subterms

    Latest story

    125 Shares135 Views

    ‘We AmeRícans’ Celebrates Puerto Rican Community, Pride, and Cultural Hybridity

    by

    Ruben Natal-San Miguel, “Home Ruins, Bathroom, Old San Jan, Puerto Rico” (2017), color serigraph/photo silkscreen on canvas, 24 x 36 inches. All images courtesy of Claire Oliver Gallery, shared with permission

    ‘We AmeRícans’ Celebrates Puerto Rican Community, Pride, and Cultural Hybridity

    October 7, 2025

    Art

    Kate Mothes

    Share

    Pin

    Email

    Bookmark

    At the end of September, the NFL’s announcement that Puerto Rican star Bad Bunny would be headlining the Super Bowl LX halftime show generated an uproar. He’s one of the most-streamed musical artists in the world, and while many fans rejoiced, the news made waves with conservatives, who take issue with the fact that he predominantly performs in Spanish and has been critical of the current administration. Bad Bunny has since clapped back in an appearance on Saturday Night Live, illuminating the culture war within the polarized U.S. political climate.

    It seems fitting, with Puerto Rican Heritage Month just around the corner, that a group exhibition honoring the island commonwealth and its diasporic community opens soon at Claire Oliver Gallery in New York City. We AmeRícans, curated by Ruben Natal-San Miguel, brings together the work of 10 artists whose practices reflect “the history, resilience, and cultural contributions of the Puerto Rican community in New York City and beyond,” the gallery says.

    Danielle de Jesus, acrylic on U.S. currency

    Through photography, painting, sculpture, printmaking, textiles, and mixed-media compositions, the exhibition highlights Puerto Rican community and identity. The title is drawn from a poem by Tato Laviera titled “AmeRícan,” penned in 1985, a rhythmic and joyous celebration cultural hybridity.

    We AmeRícans highlights an intergenerational group of artists, from the acclaimed and established practices of the likes of Carlos Rolón, Carlos Betancourt, and Danielle de Jesus to the fresh perspectives of young and emerging artists like Felix Plaza, Erica Morales, and Elsa María Meléndez.

    Natal-San Miguel’s vibrant photographs, for example, draw from his series Puerto Rico: Paradise Ruined, Its Aftermath, in which he documents houses and businesses heavily damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Maria in 2017. Following the storm, thousands of people were forced to abandon their homes. “Between 114,000 and 213,000 Puerto Ricans are estimated to have relocated annually to the U.S. mainland since the hurricane,” the artist says in a statement.

    A range of mediums lend themselves to cross-cultural experience. De Jesus meticulously renders a house facade with a Puerto Rican flag onto two U.S. one-dollar bills. Meléndez turns to textiles, on which she embroiders portraits and creates sculptural elements from an array of patterned fabrics. And Betancourt uses a range of found objects to create assemblages, sculptures, and large-scale print installations.

    Carlos Betancourt, “Times of Illuminations” (2017-18), mixed media including collected tree toppers, electrical wiring, remote “magic” wand, paint, color pencils, etc, mounted on plywood, 101 x 101 inches

    “This exhibition is a celebration and an act of preservation, documenting the creativity, strength, and ongoing impact of Puerto Rican artists across generations,” Natal-San Miguel says. “Through their work, we see not just personal narratives, but the collective story of migration, labor, resilience, and cultural pride.”

    We AmeRícans opens in Harlem on November 5 and continues through January 3. See more on Claire Oliver Gallery’s website. You might also enjoy artist Adrián Viajero Román’s portraits that reflect on Puerto Rican diasporic experience.

    Elsa María Meléndez, “La Isla de las Nostalgias / The Island of Nostalgias” (2020-24), embroidery on canvas with discarded stuffed stockings and wire, site-specific installation, 156 x 170 inches

    Ruben Natal-San Miguel, “Home Ruins, La Perla, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico” (2017), color serigraph/photo silkscreen on canvas, 24 x 36 inches

    Beatriz Williams, “Madurando,” (2024), acrylic on canvas, 40 x 30 inches

    Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz, (2021), gown created in collaboration with costume designer Kristina Tollefson. Image of Wanda Raimundi-Ortiz during a dress rehearsal for the performance “Exodus Pilgrimage” (2019), in Orlando. Photo by Dominic DiPaolo

    Felix Plaza, “Flora – Rojo y verde” (1999-2020), gum bichromate and silkscreen, individually hand-cut Rives BFK and other papers, 30 x 22.5 inches

    Carlos Betancourt, “The Future Eternal (Process as Ritual)” (2018), pigmented inkjet on fine art paper, 36 x 36 inches

    Dave Ortiz, “Barnito Providencia” (2024), acrylic on canvas, 60 x 48 inches

    Erica Morales, “You’re Gonna Lose The House” (2024), spray paint, fabric collage and pencil on paper, 30 x 22 inches

    Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member now, and support independent arts publishing.

    Hide advertising

    Save your favorite articles

    Get 15% off in the Colossal Shop

    Receive members-only newsletter

    Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms

    Join us today!

    $7/month

    $75/year

    Explore membership options

    Previous articleNext article More

    More stories

    • 150 Shares199 Views

      in Art

      Found Objects Hold Puerto Rican Lineage in Adrián Viajero Román’s Layered Portraits

      by

      “Aguas De Libertad” (2012), graphite on wood, cardboard, pastel, 36 x 24 inches. All images courtesy of Adrián Viajero Román, shared with permission

      Found Objects Hold Puerto Rican Lineage in Adrián Viajero Román’s Layered Portraits

      August 13, 2025

      Art

      Grace Ebert

      Share

      Pin

      Email

      Bookmark

      “The objects I use often serve as memory keepers,” says Adrián Viajero Román. “Sometimes they find me—objects with history, decay, or presence—and I build a piece around them. Other times, I begin with a story I want to tell and seek materials that can hold that narrative.”

      Román finds an intuitive balance between object and idea, allowing each to influence the other as he melds two-dimensional portraiture with three-dimensional forms like wooden frames, religious iconography, frayed chicken wire, and even an empty can of Goya black beans. These found—and seemingly mundane—items hold stories that reflect the artist’s ongoing interests: memory, migration, and the genealogies we can trace through the objects that accompany us or that we leave behind.

      “Picking Up The Pieces” (2018), portrait of Maria Kerialys Aldea de Jesus of Las Piedras, Puerto Rico, graphite on wood, terry cloth, plastic bottles, newspaper, 24 x 18 inches

      Based between Brooklyn, New Jersey, and Puerto Rico, Román frequently reflects on the experience of the Puerto Rican diaspora and the bifurcated way of living that can emerge when people leave their homelands. He’s deeply interested in the correlations between belonging and displacement and how preserving the past is essential to telling honest stories about ourselves and communities.

      The artist’s works often feature children, who appear as both innocent and supremely knowing. Staring at the viewer with serious eyes, these youthful protagonists might be steadfastly engaged in a game or otherwise posed in a way that suggests impermanence. The child in “Picking Up The Pieces,” for example, grasps a white terrycloth towel in her pudgy hand while sitting atop crunched plastic bottles, a precarious seat that will only hold for so long. Román shares:

      The children become physical, dimensional presences, symbols of possibility and resilience that inhabit our space as reminders of hope and imagination… I often depict children because they carry both the innocence of potential and the clarity of truth. In these works, the children aren’t passive. They’re dreaming, resisting, surviving. They become living monuments, carrying the weight of history while pointing us toward the future.

      In his solo exhibition titled Archivos Vivos at The National Puerto Rican Museum in Chicago, the artist presents his mixed-media sculptures and installations as a sort of journey through Puerto Rican identity. As its name suggests, archival imagery and objects appear frequently to illustrate the various influences on this collective experience.

      “Niño Santo” (2011), graphite and charcoal on wood, window frame, wire, rope, iron claw foot

      As part of this exhibition, Román facilitated a pair of workshops that invited community members to reflect on their own experiences and encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement and then create either a paper airplane or boat. Participants also responded to a more profound, enduring question: “What does citizenship mean—especially for Puerto Ricans, whose U.S. citizenship was imposed, not chosen?”

      “This workshop came at a time of heightened urgency,” Román says, noting that just days before the gatherings, federal agents visited the museum unannounced. “It was a chilling reminder that our communities are still being surveilled, targeted, and threatened. This is why we must keep telling our stories—why we gather in these spaces to remember, create, and resist.”

      Archivos Vivos is on view through January 17, 2026. A new installation in his Caja De Memoria Viva series will open this October at the National Portrait Gallery, with a replica to follow for Puro Ritmo at the Smithsonian Latino American Museum in April. Until then, keep up with the artist’s work on his website and Instagram.

      “Mi Caridad” (2010), charcoal and graphite on wood, vintage objects (trunk, photos, toys, washboard, and books), 24 x 36 x 24 inches

      “Caja De Memoria Viva II, Sobrevivientes: Digna Quiles” (2018), charcoal on wood, 48 x 49 x 48 inches

      Interior detail of “Caja De Memoria Viva II, Sobrevivientes: Digna Quiles” (2018), charcoal on wood, 48 x 49 x 48 inches

      “Si Yo Sueño,” graphite on wood, vintage suitcase, wood frame, book, twine, wood toy, 17 x 29 x 6 inches

      Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member now, and support independent arts publishing.

      Hide advertising

      Save your favorite articles

      Get 15% off in the Colossal Shop

      Receive members-only newsletter

      Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms

      Join us today!

      $7/month

      $75/year

      Explore membership options

      Previous articleNext article More

    • 75 Shares169 Views

      in Street Art

      Tellas x 2Bleene in Argentiera, Italy

      by

      Italian artist Tellas has just completed a new project in Argentiera, Sardinia, Italy. Entitled “FronteMare” this piece is a collaboration between Tellas, Puerto Rican artist 2Bleene and the architects from Landworks, who transformed a huge parking lot to a new area that works as a plaza and basket/pickleball.“FronteMare – Tellas says – wants to be like a mirror, a reflection of what is around the work itself. The nuances and gradations of the sea and vegetation, the mistral that blows fresh and strong, and the mining architecture, are the main three elements that give life to a composition that plays and interacts with the landscape”.Tellas has made an indelible mark on the street art world with his unique style and profound connection to nature.Growing up in a place (Sardinia, Italy) that is steeped in history and surrounded by lush landscapes, it’s no wonder that nature plays a central role in Tellas’s work. With a unique approach to nature-inspired art and an ability to seamlessly blend his work with the urban environment, Tellas’s art is characterized by its fluid and organic forms, often resembling the shapes and patterns found in nature. His work often features abstract representations of forests, trees, and plant life, and he is known for his use of earthy tones and natural materials. His style evokes a sense of tranquility and harmony, inviting viewers to connect with the natural world.One of the most remarkable aspects of Tellas’s work is his ability to adapt and integrate his art into the urban environment. He doesn’t impose his art on the city; instead, he collaborates with it. He carefully selects locations and surfaces that complement his style and make his pieces feel like they belong there, whether it’s on a decaying wall, a forgotten alleyway, or a crumbling building.2Bleene was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She describes her work as an expressive contemporary abstraction between her encounters with flowers/nature and her years of work as a graphic designer. Her process begins with documenting floral elements in her island and travels to then transform them into long lasting memories, color palettes and textures. Take a look at more images below and check back with us soon for more updates. More

    • 63 Shares169 Views

      in Street Art

      Alexis Diaz in Holyoke, Massachusetts

      by

      Alexis Diaz painted a new mural in Holyoke, Massachusetts, a 40x36ft wall dedicated to all Puerto Ricans and Latinos living outside their homeland.According to the 2010 census, Holyoke had the largest Puerto Rican population, per capita, of any city in the United States outside of Puerto Rico. From a combination of agricultural programs instituted by the US Department of Labor, Puerto Ricans began settling in the city in the mid-1950s, and many arrived during the wave of Puerto Rican immigration to the northeastern United States in the 1980s.Alexis: “They leave behind their families, friends and part of their history to look for a better future. In their luggage they carry all their culture, pride and traditions to create a new home and a community proud of their roots.” Take a look at more images below and check back with us soon for more updates. More

    • 100 Shares159 Views

      in Street Art

      “El Vencedor” by Juan Salgado in Puerto Rico

      by

      The experienced artist Juan Salgado presents a mural to help transform a community in his native Puerto Rico.The history that surrounds the community of Santurce and El Hipódromo ward in Puerto Rico, has served as inspiration for the well-known artist, Juan Salgado, to create his most recent work called “El Vencedor”, and in this way contribute to the transformation of the zone in that community.This is part of an initiative of Doctor’s Center Foundation and produced by Zumare Studios that will impact the Santurce communities.  The mural presents an adaptation of the history that the Santurce community in San Juan holds, Since its foundation, Santurce served as the home of those ancient slaves who achieved their freedom. Under the title “El Vencedor”, Salgado seeks to highlight all those who managed to overcome the chains of slavery, leaving behind the inequality and prejudices of the time.“I am extremely happy with this project. As an artist I seek to impact people in different ways, and I believe with this mural, we are remembering a valuable history of the Santurce and Puerto Rico area. We can never forget our roots and what has made us all diverse”, commented the world-renowned tattoo artist.The community of Santurce has undergone great transformations, but Salgado wanted to highlight that moment in history where freedom was the center of this iconic San Juan community. “Slavery in Puerto Rico was abolished only 148 years ago. This work is dedicated to all those victorious people who traced the path to freedom and managed to escape from the imposed race”, Salgado mentioned.Juan Salgado has over 400 thousand followers on his social media accounts, and has captured his work on the skin of great artists and renowned personalities. He has left his mark and creations in various areas of Puerto Rico, and in countries such as Italy, Australia and at Wynwood in Miami, Florida. Also, he has participated in several international competitions recreating a mixture between fantasy and reality, making the viewer contribute his point of view to his works.Check out below for more images of “El Vencedor”. More

    • 138 Shares199 Views

      in Art

      Monumental Murals of Anatomical Creatures by ROA Celebrate Puerto Rico’s Biodiversity

      by

      
      Art

      #animals
      #murals
      #public art
      #Puerto Rico
      #street art

      April 26, 2021
      Grace Ebert

      Red Tail Hawk in Humacao, November 2018. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
      Belgian street artist ROA (previously) has been touring Puerto Rico painting his signature monochromatic menagerie around the island. Depicting both native creatures like parrots and seahorses and invasive species like lionfish, the massive pieces celebrate the region’s biodiversity and the biologists and conservationists working tirelessly to preserve it. Many of the murals are anatomical and juxtapose life and death, a recurring theme in ROA’s body of work and one that’s apparent in his most recent rendering in Isla de Cabras. Spanning 160 feet, the massive artwork positions a plump, wrinkled manatee alongside a lengthy skeleton.
      The ongoing project has produced 15 murals so far and is a collaboration with Elegel Group. You can find out more about the impetus behind each animal on Instagram. (via Street Art News)

      Manatee in Isla de Cabras, April 2021. Photog by Four Two Photography
      Puerto Rican Parrot in Utuado, July 2019. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
      Octopus in Playa Escambron, July 2019. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
      Lionfish in Naguabo, June 2019. Photo by Pedro “Huck” Rosa, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
      Seahorse in Playa Escambron. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
      Snail in Aibonit, January 2019. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
      Monkey in Naguabo, November 2018. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
      Lizard in San Juan. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission
      Tortuga. Photo by Edgardo Santiago, image courtesy of Taller 2C1, shared with permission

      #animals
      #murals
      #public art
      #Puerto Rico
      #street art

      Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member and support independent arts publishing. Join a community of like-minded readers who are passionate about contemporary art, help support our interview series, gain access to partner discounts, and much more. Join now!

       
      Share this story
        More

    • 100 Shares99 Views

      in Street Art

      “#PRLOVE” and “MANATEE” by ROA, in Puerto Rico

      by

      Internationally renowned artist ROA is painting his animal murals in a roadtrip across Puerto Rico. He has completed over 15 murals and has just finished his largest on the Isla de Cabras; an infant manatee with an adult skeleton.His initiative #PRLOVE, seeks to generate awareness of the animals and to celebrate the biodiversity of Puerto Rico. It highlights the individual animals that live here and the biologists and contributors that work to preserve the species and environment.#PRLOVE is an ongoing effort with many potential facets and programs and is produced in partnership with Puerto Rico’s Elegel Group. It is supported by Coqui Charities and is in collaboration with natural resource agencies, NGO’s and independent groups, including DRN, Conservación ConCiencia and the Caribbean Manatee Conservation Center.The 160’ x 25’ mural on the World War II concrete gun battery Fort Amezquita, on the edge of Isla de Cabras, is ROA’s largest to date in Puerto Rico and marks the 15th piece done by the artist here. Other murals painted across the Island with the help of NGOs and experts in wildlife conservation include the crested toad in Guánica and the Puerto Rican parrot in Utuado (both produced in collaboration with the Department of Natural and Environmental Resources); the tiger shark in Río Grande and the lionfish in Naguabo (both done in collaboration with Conservación ConCiencia.The manatee mural was painted with insight provided by experts from the Manatee Conservation Center, the financial support of Coqui Charities and the assistance of the Municipality of Toa Baja, which holds jurisdiction over Isla de Cabras.Street artist Roa is a muralist from Ghent, Belgium, he is primarily known for his strong obsession for animals and rodents. He often combines life, death, and life after death in his murals, which quickly distinguishes him amongst traditional muralists. His animals are painted to include skeleton and internal organs, making the sight even more realistic.Internationally, ROA has created over a 1000 murals on the streets of cities across Europe, the United States, Australia, Asia, New Zealand and Africa.Take a look below to see more photos of “#PRLOVE” and “MANATEE”. More