Visiting Artists Series: Tania Alvarez

Tania Alvarez creates psychologically charged paintings and sculptures depicting everyday interiors and architectural spaces that are devoid of human presence. Working in a variety of materials and techniques, including sculpture, fabric, stone, wood, found material, collage, and painting, Alvarez's work creates a chronicle of her life, both time-stamping the creations with self-specific objects; while also manifesting an autobiographical structure for viewers to explore. Each piece serves as a narrative vessel, inviting viewers to reflect on their own experiences while navigating the cloistering effects of our contemporary digital landscape. Alvarez's work explores the intersections of personal and collective memory, showcasing how individual stories contribute to a broader cultural tapestry. Her pieces often weave intricate narratives, which act as surrogates for the human experience.

Tania Alvarez (b.1983 Sevilla, Spain) lives and works in Catskill, New York. She holds an MFA from the New York Academy of Art (2017) and a BFA from Pratt Institute (2005). Recent solo exhibitions include Through Painted Panes, CHART Gallery, New York, New York (2024); and P.O.V., Miriam Gallery, Brooklyn, New York (2020). Recent group exhibitions include The Golden Thread: A Fiber Art Show, Bravin Lee Programs, New York, New York (2024); P(re)view, Galeria Belard, Lisbon, Portugal (2023); Interlude: A Five-Year Residency Retrospective, The James Castle House, Boise, Idaho (2023); Home Works, CHART Gallery, New York, New York (2023); Dwelling, White Columns, New York, New York (2023); McNay Print Fair, McNay Museum, San Antonio, Texas (2023); Inside Out, Scroll Gallery, New York, New York (2022); Rostro, Charlie James Gallery, Los Angeles, California (2022); and Nice Work 2, Sulk Gallery, Chicago, Illinois (2022) among others. She is a three-time recipient of the Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant, and was an artist-in-residence at the James Castle House in Boise, Idaho; The Sam and Adele Golden Foundation in New Berlin, New York; The Studios at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Massachusetts; and the Central Academy of Fine Arts in Beijing, China. Alvarez’s works are in the permanent collections of the University Art Museum at the University at Albany and the Boise City Department of Arts and History in Boise, Idaho.

Artwork (left): After the Rain, 2024. Acrylic and oil on canvas 20 x 16 x 1.75 in.

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