about me
BIO
American, born Mexico (1971). Works and lives in Miami, FL.
Laura is an interdisciplinary artist working at the intersection of fiber, painting, and photography. Through the use of embroidery, paint and textile on paper and canvas, she creates a feminine poetry inspired by her Mexican roots. Vivid colors, ancient traditions, and the artist’s subsequent immigration to the United States in the late 90’s influence the artist’s concepts. I her work, Laura merges two stages of her life and she creates tensions between different media. She questions issues of identity, sense of place, longing, and memory.
Villarreal holds a MA in Analysis and Management of Contemporary Art from the University of Barcelona, ESP. She studied at the University of North Carolina, the New York School of Visual Arts, and the Art Students’ League in NYC. Exhibitions include the Instituto Cultural de Mexico in Miami, the Embassy of Chile in Washington D.C., the Centro Cultural Fatima in Mexico, and the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles. She has shown her work in Parc Lima, Chaco Chile, and Pinta Miami. She is amongst the artists that comprise the Mexican Cultural Institute in Miami as well as an advocate for Art Education to young audiences in the City of Key Biscayne, Florida.
STATEMENT
What we live for today, what we learn in the process, and how we live the course of our lives becomes who we are. I believe it is through a series of actions that we form a new self, which reflects on everything we do in each moment of our lives.
I grew up in a country of pure yellows, pinks, and oranges. Mexico is a vivid place for festivities, unusual costumes, and vibrant objects. It is a country that tries to preserve its homogeneity as a nation while simultaneously fighting to return to a past life that was snatched away from its people.
When I moved to the U.S., I discovered a world based on precision and efficiency where people have built everything to their own image and resemblance. These experiences created a tension that I bring to my work through an interdisciplinary approach. I pair monochromatic, structured photography with organic colorful threads. Paintings become threaded, and rigid books are intervened through ancient Mayan textile traditions. My work is always inspired by these convergences and divergences.
CV
VISUAL ARTIST
American, b. Monterrey, Mexico (1971)
Lives and works in Miami, FL
EDUCATION
2008-2010 M.A., Universidad de Barcelona, ES
1989-1993 B.A., ITESM, Monterrey, MX
ADDITIONAL STUDIES
2000 The Art Students League. New York, NY, US
1999 The New York School of Visual Arts. New York, NY, US
1998-2000 University of North Carolina. Chapel Hill, NC, US
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2020 Galeria 14, “Mental Narratives”, Sonora, MX
2016 Consulado de Mexico en Los Angeles, “Small”, Los Angeles, CA
2012 Instituto Cultural de Mexico, “Twice upon a Time…”, Miami, FL
2012 Embassy of Chile, “Twice upon a Time”, Washington, DC
2008 Centro Cultural Plaza Fatima, “Lucha Libre”, Monterrey, MX
2007 Instituto Cultural de Mexico, “Lucha Libre", Miami, FL
2005 Instituto Cultural de Mexico, “Trans - Lucid", Miami, FL
2005 Courvoisier Courts, “Art on the Move”, Miami, FL
2003 Kapz Gallery, “Reflections”, Coral Gables, FL
2002 Brickell Key, “Catarinas…A Través de Sus Ojos”, Miami, FL
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2021 The Frank, “Warp and Weft”, Pembroke Pines, FL
2021 Instituto Cultural de Mexico, “El Hilo Conductor”, Miami, FL
2020 Dina Mitrani Gallery, “The Altered Image”, Miami, US
2020 The Camp Gallery, “40 Women Pulling the Thread of Social Discourse”, Miami, FL
2020 Adrienne Connelly Fine Arts, “Studio Annex”, Baton Rouge, LA
2020 Aqua Art Miami, Rubber Stamp art projects, Miami, US
2019 Galeria Juarez, “Devenir”, Torreón, MX
2019 Parc Art fair, Imaginario Galeria, Lima, PE
2018 Art Basel Miami Beach, 27/20 Artist studios visit - official circuit, Miami, US
2018 Pinta Miami, Rubber Stamp art projects, Miami, US
2018 Ch.aco, Rubber Stamp art projects, Santiago, CL
2018 Instituto Cultural de Mexico, “Migrante: Una Mirada de Género”, Miami, FL
2018 Chase Edwards Gallery, Dreams in Color, Bridgehampton, NY
2017 Pinta Miami, Rubber Stamp art projects, Miami, FL
2017 Ch.aco, Rubber Stamp art projects, Santiago, CL
2017 Oolite Arts, Studios 27/20, Miami, FL
2017 Galeria Trike, Colectiva, Mexico City, MX
2017 Maya Gallery, LA Art Show, Los Angeles, CA
2016 Koubek Art Center, Puro Arte, Miami, FL
2015 ET Gallery, Subasta Fredo, Mexico City, MX
2012 Instituto Cultural de Mexico, “5 Artistas Visuales de Mexico”, Miami, FL
2009 GDS Gallery, “Arte Americas 2010”, Miami Beach, US
2009 Wynwood Box, “Feminine Visual Voices”, Miami, US
2009 Mexico Pavillion, “Arte Americas 2009”, Miami Beach, US
2009 Instituto Cultural de Mexico, “Mujer Latina, Mujer Divina”, Miami, US
2008 Centro Cultural Plaza Fatima, “Imaginario”, Monterrey, MX
2006 Lurie Gallery, “Contemporary Mixology”, Miami, FL
2006 Voices for Children Foundation, “Art Box”, Miami, FL
2005 Gobierno de Puerto Rico, “Raices Hispanas”, Miami, US
2005 La Corona, “MTY Happening”, Monterrey, MX
2004 Momenti Gallery, “Sensation of Color”, Miami, FL
2003 City of Miami Cultural Center, “Multi-culturality", Miami, US
2002 Kapz Gallery, “Beginnings”, Coral Gables, FL
2002 Union Planters Bank, “Hispanic Art Expressions 2002”, Coral Gables, FL
2002 Tower Theater, “Hispanic Art at the Tower”, Miami, FL
2002 Radio Unica, “Radio Unica Exhibition”, Miami, FL
2001 Grove Isle Resort, “Pursuing Instincts”, Coconut Grove, FL
RESIDENCIES
2019 Casa Bartolo, Eco-dye, Mexico City, MX
2019 Studio Maira Jimena, Eco-dye, Lima, PE
2019 Trama Textiles, Weaving and Eco-dye, Quetzaltenango, GUAT
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Vive Miami, March 2021, Miami, FL
Periodico El Reforma, December 2020, Mexico City, MX
Vive Miami, December 2018, Miami, FL
Voyage Miami, May 3, 2018, Miami, FL
Milenio, December 2017, Mexico City, MX
El Mercurio, October 2017, Santiago, CL
Ejecutiva Magazine, September 22, 2015, Miami, US
El Norte, February 2008, Monterrey, MX
The Islander News, September 22, 2005, Key Biscayne, FL
Sueños, October 2005, Bogota, COL
La Isla, September 2005, Key Biscayne, FL
El Norte, June 2005, Monterrey, MX
El Nuevo Herald, November 11, 2005, Miami, FL
SELECTED COLLECTIONS
McCreedy Collection, Zurich, CH
Embassy of Chile, Washington DC
Patrimonio del Gobierno de SPGG, Monterrey, MX