TAMIU Art Professor Mounts First Texas Solo Exhibition at Corpus Christi Gallery
Texas A&M International University (TAMIU) assistant professor of Art Josias Figueirido will soon have his first solo art exhibition in Texas at the K Space Contemporary Art Gallery in Corpus Christi.
The exhibition, “Piri the Dreamer and Flying Coyote in Good Company,” merges fiction and reality along with digital and analog processes in a series of new works that speak to ideas related to community, friendship, and personal heroes. An opening reception will be held Friday, May 5, from 5:30 – 9 p.m. The exhibition will be in place through June 22, 2023 at the Gallery, located at 623 North Chaparral Street.
Since the beginning of 2022, Figueirido has been working on a fictional world in 3D modeling that channels his personal experiences and reflections on topics related to immigration and draws inspiration from his daily life.
“I am inspired by biographical events, life at the México-US border, and stories from my TAMIU students, especially those who cross the border every day of class from Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, México to Laredo,” Figueirido said.
His fictional and ever-growing world anchoring the exhibit started with one main space called the Garden -- a safe, calm, and idyllic place -- and two friends, Piri the Dreamer and Flying Coyote, who playfully engage with the space and with other inhabitants they find in the Garden.
In this exhibition, Figueirido introduces new characters and expands the elements of the Garden. The story of Piri the Dreamer and Flying Coyote is primarily one of universal friendship and the unexpected bond that grows between people who were never intended to meet or get along, but are united by the same desire for a new beginning far from their places of origin.
Figueirido said there is a heroic element to the work.
“Somehow I think Piri the Dreamer and Flying Coyote are projections of my heroes. They possess those qualities I admire such as playfulness and determination. Their story speaks of turning disadvantages into advantages, new beginnings, and never giving up on dreams.”
Though the story is built in 3D software, the narrative is unfolded and presented to the viewer primarily through airbrushed paintings.
“The finished work highly resembles the digital world, but when one looks at the painting in person, one can tell there is material on the surface, and that fluctuation between the digital and the physical really excites me,” Figueirido explained.
What started as a way to sketch up and make preparations for paintings in 3D modeling has evolved into a never-ending and ever-growing project thanks to the software possibilities, he noted. He is continuously creating new spaces and characters, as well as exploring ways of presenting his stories to an audience.
“The possibilities of working in 3D software are endless. Once I have my models, I can project them on canvas and airbrush them, I can 3D print them, I can animate them, and they can be experienced in virtual and augmented reality,” he observed.
Figueirido was born in Santa Eugenia de Riveira, a small fishing town in the northwest of Spain. He received an MFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia, a Post-Graduate Diploma in Drawing from the Royal Drawing School in London, and a BA in Fine Arts from London Metropolitan University He joined the faculty at Texas A&M International University in Laredo in 2020, where he combines his teaching with studio work.
He has been in residence at Wassaic Project, Millay Arts, and Vermont Studio Center among other places, and has exhibited in national and international solo and group exhibitions. Among other awards, Figueirido received an NEA grant for a collaborative mural project in downtown Laredo.
His work is in public and private collections such as The Horseman Collection of American Art (St. Louis, MO), Paintings in Hospitals Collection (London, UK), and the Francisco Fernández del Riego Collection (Vigo, Spain).
While primarily a painter, Figueirido embraces technology as a tool to aid and create work. His work shows the aesthetic impact of the screen, and it addresses topics related to immigration. He is a visual storyteller with fiction as his main genre.
“I enjoy fiction because it is not real, and yet it connects my imagination to the real world, making me think about real events and feel real emotions. For me, fictional stories blend both imagination and reality and are capable of connecting people cross-culturally. As an artist, fiction gives me control over my stories. I enjoy the freedom of deciding what is possible,” Figueirido concluded.
About TAMIU’s Visual Arts Program
TAMIU’s College of Arts & Sciences Department of Fine and Performing Arts Visual Arts Program, with an extensive curricula and well-rounded faculty, provides an enriching experience for aspiring artists and art teachers.
Dedicated to student success, TAMIU’s visual arts program offers multiple opportunities for student gallery exhibition and access to professional artist exhibitions and demonstrations.
Registration for Maymester, Summer, and Fall 2023 is underway. View the registration schedule here: https://www.tamiu.edu/registrar/registration.shtml.
To learn more about TAMIU’s Registration processes, visit the dedicated Registration Hub at https://go.tamiu.edu/registration
About K Space Contemporary
K Space Contemporary (KSC) is a 501c3 non-profit arts organization dedicated to presenting and promoting contemporary art. A forum for creative exchange, education, and experimentation, KSC builds awareness for innovative art in South Texas.
KSC was established in 2001 by key members of K Space Art Studios and in 2007, opened its current street-level location. The “K” in its name refers to the building’s historic roots as a Kress Five & Dime Store.
K Space Contemporary mounts 18 - 20 solo and group exhibitions each year by regional and national artists. To learn more, visit https://www.kspacecontemporary.org
