Luis Antonio Navas-Reyes
STATEMENT I am both the conqueror and conquered. Like many kids of immigrants, I share the feeling of being between two cultures and identities. As an artist, my drive is to unearth and resolve my cultural inheritance on an emotional and intellectual level. The visual language of my work echoes that of Mesoamerican patterns and forms, cultural symbols, and nature. Specifically, Teotihuacan culture and nature from my family's home country of El Salvador. As an interdisciplinary artist, I find inspiration in various mediums. When drawing, I explore intricate cultural details and symbolism. Relief printing allows me to carve designs that are layered and colorful. In ceramics, I echo Mesoamerican artifacts such as the Teotihuacan tripod vessel form. Jewelry making, on the other hand, I incorporate cultural symbols and natural elements into wearable art pieces. I seek to promote a dialogue with my audience, conversations about the intersections of culture, history, and personal identity. Through my art, I aim to bridge gaps and understanding among myself and others. My aim is to create engaging and high-quality artwork that resonates with both myself and my audience. |
BIO
Luis A. Navas-Reyes is an interdisciplinary artist whose work Is a translation of abstract compositions, built upon a unique and personal visual vocabulary. His work is rooted in his identity, culture, environments, abstraction, power structures, familiar and historical histories. Utilizing media such as printmaking, drawings, sculpture, and bookmaking Luis explores his narratives. In 2018 Luis was awarded “Jurors choice” at an artworks juried show. That same year he was selected to participate in the DOLPH project that contextualized contemporary art practice. Luis completed his BFA at James Madison University in 2018. That same year he received a research grant to live and work in Seville Spain 2019. In the summer of 2020 he was awarded the Post Grad Residency at Torpedo Factory. He currently works as a photography teacher. |
CV
Education
2018 James Madison University | BFA Studio Art, Printmaking
2016 Northern Virginia Community College | Associate of Fine Arts
Exhibitions
2024 PullProof Studio, Myth presented by Pittsburg Print Group | Pittsburg, PA
2023 McGuire Woods Gallery, FCPS Artist Teacher Exhibit | Lorton, VA
2022 McGuire Woods Gallery, FCPS Artist Teacher Exhibit | Lorton, VA
2022 Blackrock Gallery, Estamos Aqui | Germantown, MD
2021 Dupont UNDERGROUND, Somewhere between, by Fingir | Washington D.C.
2021 McGuire Woods Gallery, FCPS Artist Teacher Exhibit | Lorton, VA
2020 Target Gallery 2020 Post-Grad Residents Exhibition
2020 The People x Monochrome Virtual Art Fair
2019 Little exhibition, Seville, Spain Summer 2019
2019 Kaplan Gallery, NextGen 6.0 | Rockville, MD
2019 Endeavor RVA, Annual Print Show | Richmond, VA
2018 artWorks Gallery, DOLPH, Curated by Tash Kahn | Harrisonburg, VA
2018 Grace Street Gallery, Thesis Show | Harrisonburg, VA *
2018 artWorks Gallery, Juried Show | Harrisonburg, VA
2018 Smith House Gallery, Rising: Juried Show | Harrisonburg, VA
2017 artWorks Gallery, E(ART)T | Harrisonburg, VA
2015 Verizon Gallery, Student Show | Annandale, VA
*indicates solo exhibition
Awards
2018 artWorks Gallery, Juror's Choice | Harrisonburg, VA
2018 SADAH Senior Achievement Awards | Harrisonburg, VA
2017 Gardy Loo Literature and Arts Magazine Cover | Harrisonburg, VA
Artist Talks and Presentations
2022 Blackrock Gallery, Estamos Aqui | Germantown, MD
2019 School of Art, Design, and Art History, Student Artist Lecture Series | Harrisonburg, VA
2018 James Madison University, Artist Talk, Thesis Exhibition | Harrisonburg, VA
2018 artWorks Gallery, Artist Talk, DOLPH Project | Harrisonburg, VA
Published Works
2021 La Horchata Issue #8 En Los Tiempos De Cuarentena
2019 Furious Flower Poetry Book
2017 Gardy Loo Literature and Arts
2016 Calliope, The Student Journal of Art and Literature
2015 Calliope, The Student Journal of Art and Literature
Studio Experience and Collaborations
2019 ARTIST COLLABORATION, Nava Levenson "Studio Dirt Project"
2018 Artist collaboration, Joanna Pottle
2018 Artist collaboration, John Ros and Duke Gallery Collaboration
2018 Ceramics Studio Assistant, James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA
2018 Printmaking Studio Assistant, James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA
Teaching Experience
Current Photography Art Educator, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
2016-8 Printmaking Teaching, Assistant James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA
Education
2018 James Madison University | BFA Studio Art, Printmaking
2016 Northern Virginia Community College | Associate of Fine Arts
Exhibitions
2024 PullProof Studio, Myth presented by Pittsburg Print Group | Pittsburg, PA
2023 McGuire Woods Gallery, FCPS Artist Teacher Exhibit | Lorton, VA
2022 McGuire Woods Gallery, FCPS Artist Teacher Exhibit | Lorton, VA
2022 Blackrock Gallery, Estamos Aqui | Germantown, MD
2021 Dupont UNDERGROUND, Somewhere between, by Fingir | Washington D.C.
2021 McGuire Woods Gallery, FCPS Artist Teacher Exhibit | Lorton, VA
2020 Target Gallery 2020 Post-Grad Residents Exhibition
2020 The People x Monochrome Virtual Art Fair
2019 Little exhibition, Seville, Spain Summer 2019
2019 Kaplan Gallery, NextGen 6.0 | Rockville, MD
2019 Endeavor RVA, Annual Print Show | Richmond, VA
2018 artWorks Gallery, DOLPH, Curated by Tash Kahn | Harrisonburg, VA
2018 Grace Street Gallery, Thesis Show | Harrisonburg, VA *
2018 artWorks Gallery, Juried Show | Harrisonburg, VA
2018 Smith House Gallery, Rising: Juried Show | Harrisonburg, VA
2017 artWorks Gallery, E(ART)T | Harrisonburg, VA
2015 Verizon Gallery, Student Show | Annandale, VA
*indicates solo exhibition
Awards
2018 artWorks Gallery, Juror's Choice | Harrisonburg, VA
2018 SADAH Senior Achievement Awards | Harrisonburg, VA
2017 Gardy Loo Literature and Arts Magazine Cover | Harrisonburg, VA
Artist Talks and Presentations
2022 Blackrock Gallery, Estamos Aqui | Germantown, MD
2019 School of Art, Design, and Art History, Student Artist Lecture Series | Harrisonburg, VA
2018 James Madison University, Artist Talk, Thesis Exhibition | Harrisonburg, VA
2018 artWorks Gallery, Artist Talk, DOLPH Project | Harrisonburg, VA
Published Works
2021 La Horchata Issue #8 En Los Tiempos De Cuarentena
2019 Furious Flower Poetry Book
2017 Gardy Loo Literature and Arts
2016 Calliope, The Student Journal of Art and Literature
2015 Calliope, The Student Journal of Art and Literature
Studio Experience and Collaborations
2019 ARTIST COLLABORATION, Nava Levenson "Studio Dirt Project"
2018 Artist collaboration, Joanna Pottle
2018 Artist collaboration, John Ros and Duke Gallery Collaboration
2018 Ceramics Studio Assistant, James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA
2018 Printmaking Studio Assistant, James Madison University | Harrisonburg, VA
Teaching Experience
Current Photography Art Educator, Fairfax County Public Schools, VA
2016-8 Printmaking Teaching, Assistant James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA