Culminating Project: Gustavo Castillo [AAACC Artist in Residence]

Portraits in Exile: Identity, Garifuna Culture, and Everyday Materials will explore the meaning of portraiture within Gustavo's artistic practice and its connection to his Garifuna cultural identity. He will reflect on how belonging to a people historically shaped by exile and constant adaptation has influenced the way he represents faces, bodies, and memory.

Gustavo will also discuss the use of nontraditional materials, such as the ballpoint pen, as a means of artistic expression. Through his work, Gustavo shows simple, everyday tools can be transformed into powerful instruments for creating art, challenging traditional ideas about what materials are considered appropriate for drawing.

This talk brings together themes of identity, resilience, adaptation, and creativity, highlighting how art can emerge from what is accessible and essential.

The AAACC Enterprising Creatives’ Artist Talks offer a unique opportunity to hear directly from emerging artists who are building sustainable creative practices. These Artist Talks are a chance for the public to connect with the residents, hear their stories, and witness the incredible talent emerging from the program. This FREE public event will feature presentations from our four talented AAACC Artists in Residence. Hear from our resident artists as they take the stage to share their artistic journey, creative processes, inspirations and the stories behind their current work.

From painting to sculpture to digital media and woodcraft, the cohorts represent a diverse of practices and perspectives. Whether you’re a collector, curator, fellow artist, or simply love art, you are warmly welcome.

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Host or Publisher African American Art & Culture Complex