Blanka Amezkua
Projects
AAA3A : Initiator, artist run space, which holds gregarious living room occurrences, face to face exchanges, food, dialogue, workshops and residencies and art inside an apartment in Mott Haven, South Bronx. October 2016 - present.
Fo Kia Nou 24/7 : Initiator of alternative art space in the center of Athens, Greece. April 2014 – June 2016. Ongoing.
Bronx Blue Bedroom Project : Originator; alternative art space inside my bedroom. Mott Haven, South Bronx. 2008 - 2010.
Solo
2023
Tiny Herbs of Knowledge; curated by Lucas Cowan, at the Famous Hardware Store; Springdale, AR
2022
CAUTION: Collage and Papel Picado Ahead; curated by Andrea M. Ortuño, PhD, at Bronx Community College, CUNY; Bronx, NY
2021
In Chroma We Trust by Blanka Amezkua at AAA3A / Studio Space; Bronx, NY
2019
My Home Has Wings / Mi Casa Tiene Alas curated by Mario Torres at The Block Gallery/AIM-Bronx Museum; Tribeca, NY
2018
Re-Konztrukt: Women and Tools at Tikhonova & Wintner Fine Art; Harlem, NY
Corners, Body, Lines: Blanka Amezkua curated by Kristen Evangelista at William Paterson University; Wayne, NJ
2017
In your absence you exist / En tu ausencia existes curated by Christine Licata at Casita Maria; Bronx, NY
In your absence you exist / En tu ausencia existes curated by Christine Licata at Casita Maria; Bronx, NY
2016
Pipe cleaners and works on paper : AAA3A; Bronx, NY
blank(A)expressions : 20 year retrospective + 20 local businesses + 20 creative collaborators in Athens, Greece
Pipe cleaners and works on paper : AAA3A; Bronx, NY
blank(A)expressions : 20 year retrospective + 20 local businesses + 20 creative collaborators in Athens, Greece
2014
Figuras del alma at Art Zone 42 in Athens, Greece
Figuras del alma at Art Zone 42 in Athens, Greece
2012
Delicious Obsessions at Rooster, Athens, Greece
fLiP fLoPs & hEeLs! at Art Base; Brussels, Belgium
Delicious Obsessions at Rooster, Athens, Greece
fLiP fLoPs & hEeLs! at Art Base; Brussels, Belgium
2010
Dialects v. 3: Interminable Recurrence in My Mind at Bronx River Art Center, NY
Dialects v. 3: Interminable Recurrence in My Mind at Bronx River Art Center, NY
Group
2023
Findind My Folk; curated by Krista Scenna at Old Stone House; Brooklyn, NY
La Onda Chicana at Mattatuck Museum; Waterbury, CT
2022
Art Actions from The Point; curated by Carey Clark at BronxArtSpace; Hunts Point, NY
Your Home is My Home; curated by Michelle Vitale at Hudson County Community College; Jersey City, NJ
Flower Power; curated by Mary Cox and Panagiotis Voulgaris at FoKiaNou Art Space; Athens, Greece
Present Power / Future Hopes; curated by ArtBridge at The Clemente Soto Velez; New York, NY
Around the Table: Stories of the Foods We Love / Art Designed Tables at New York Botanical Garden; Bronx, NY
Off the Cloth at WhiteBox; New York, NY
Face to Face / Spring exhibitions; at Sugar Hill Children's Museum; Harlem, NY
2021
Downtown Train; curated by Will Corwin at PS 122; New York, NY
Vida, Muerte, Justicia / Life, Death, Justice; curated by Jorge Rojas at Ogden Contemporary Arts; UT
RE: Growth; curated by Karin Bravin at Riverside Park Conservancy; New York, NY
Sobre/Mesa; curated by LAZO at The Clemente Soto Vélez Cultural & Educational Center; New York, NY
2020
Good Trouble: Artists Respond to the 2020 Presidential Election; curated by Raul Zamudio and Juan Puntes at White Box Harlem; Harlem, NY
The Future is Latinx; curated by Yulia Tikhonova at Eastern Connecticut State University - The Art Gallery; CT
The Immigrant Artist Biennial 2020: Here, Together; curated by Katya Grokhovsky at EFA Project Space; New York, NY
Exodus III: From Orozco to Orozco: Mexico in New York; curated by Raul Zamudio at White Box Harlem; Harlem, NY
Why I Teach/Volume 2; curated by Gail Nathan and Michelle Brody; May 1 – Virtual show; at Bronx River Art Center; Bronx, NY
Bronx Now 2020; curated by Laura James and Eileen Walsh at Chashama, NY; Postponed until further notice; check site for new dates
Occupy Project #1 (New York); curated by Eirini Linardaki at the Greek Consulate; New York, NY
2019
Hand & I; curated by Yulia Tikhonova at Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs; LIC, NY
NY Latin American Tri3nnial 2019 Edition; curated by Alexis Mendoza and Luis Alers at Kupferberg Center for the Arts Gallery, Queens College; Queens, NY
Interior Landscapes; curated by Natasha Becker, Paola Gallio, and Yulia Topchiy at Assembly Room; New York, NY
I come to this place; curated by Eva Mayhabal Davis at Smack Mellon; Brooklyn, NY
Hand & I: Mending the World one Stitch at a Time; curated by Yulia Tikhnova at Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs; LIC, NY
Material with Meaning; curated by Gail Nathan and Jim Wintner at Bronx River Art Center; Bronx, NY
2018
A mirror to reflect myself upon; curated by Angeliki Douveri at TAF, Athens, Greece
From Here to There: A Constellation of Gestures; curated by Gisela Insuaste at Glow Chicago, IL
Swing Forward While Swinging Back; curated by Amanda McDonald Crowley at Longwood Art Gallery; Bronx, NY
The Point's Resiliency Arts Fellowship Projects; participating artists Blanka Amezkua, Brandon Ballengée, Lynn Cazabon and Alicia Grullonis included in Ecological Consciousness: Artist as Instigator organized by Jennifer McGregor and Eileen Jeng Lynch at Wave Hill, Bronx
Allow Me To Reintroduce Myself; curated by Krista Scenna and Carolina Penafiel at the Cigar Factory; LIC, NY
2017
Boleros ; Longwood Art Gallery, curated by Juanita Lanzo, Bronx, NY; September 20 - December 6, 2017
This is not normal; curated by Mary Cox, at Fo Kia Nou 24/7; Athens, Greece; January 10 - February 4, 2017
2016
The Border Crossed Me ; Bronx Art Space, curated by Esperanza Cortes, South Bronx, NY; October 2016
Comics at Blackburn 20/20; A Program of the Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts curated by Rocio Aranda-Alvarado, New York, NY; November – December 2016
2015
Women's Work: Masculinity and Gender in Contemporary Fiber Art; curated by Ginger Shulick Porcella; at San Diego Art Institute, San Diego, CA
CUT N' MIX: Contemporary Collage; curated by Rocio Aranda-Alvarado; at El Museo del Barrio, New York, NY
2014
Δες at BOOZE Cooperativa, Athens, Greece
2013
A Complex Weave: Women and Identity in Contemporary Art at Salina Art Center of Salina, Kansas
superHUMAN; curated by Jorge Rojas and David Hawkins; at Aljira A Center for Contemporary Art, Newark, NJ
2012
More Female than Ever at Follow Your Art; Kythira, Greece
2011
THE PET CITY EXHIBITION at Melanithros; Athens, Greece
sExplosion: Penis & Vagina Relationships in the Contemporary Visual Arts
at Booze Cooperativa; Athens, Greece
3///3 ...three walls on wednesdays...
collaborates with Against All Odds Project (AAO), Athens, Greece
2010
The Book : A Contemporary View
at Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts (DCCA), Wilmington, USA
Alternative Histories at Exit Art, NY
Greater New York, 5 Year Review at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center; Long Island City, NY
2009
A Complex Weave: Women and Identity in Contemporary Art
at Stedman Gallery, Rutgers University, NJ
There Goes My Hero at The Center for Book Arts, NY
2008
AIM 28: How soon is Now? at The Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY
El Museo's Bienal: The (S) Files 007 at El Museo del Barrio, NY
2006
Queens International '06: Everything All at Once at Queens Museum, NY
Invitation to submit
2022 MTA MNR Penn Station Access – Parkchester Van Ness/Substation in the Bronx – Budget $1,000,000 (1 of 4 finalists); New York, NY
2021 Percent for Art Shortlisted for a NYC Public Art Commission in a Public School -
Budget $100,000 (1 of 4 finalists); Bronx, NY
2020 Bronx Children's Museum Arts Review Committee, selected to propose a hanging sculpture; Budget $100,000 (1 of 3 finalists); Bronx, NY
Awards
2022
Department of Cultural Affairs Greater New York Arts Development Fund; (AAA3A), NY
2022
NYSCA Grant FY2022 through the Hispanic Society of America, NY
2022
The New York Botanical Garden: Around the Table, Bronx, NY
2022
Su-Casa Bronx River Arts Center at Morrisania Senior Center, Bronx, NY
2022 ArtBridge: Bedford Park fellowship, Bronx, NY
2022
Su-Casa through Bronx Council on the Arts at JASA, Throggs Neck, NY
2021 ArtBridge: Bridging the Divide fellowship, Bronx, NY
2021 City Artist Corps, New York, NY
2021 Sprout Fund granted by the Russell J Efros Foundation, New York, NY
2020 Department of Cultural Affairs Greater New York Arts Development Fund 2020; (AAA3A)
2020 Cultural Immigrant Initiative Workshop grant through BRAC in Bronx, NY
2020 FY20 Artist Residency Program at Casa Cariño through BAC, Bronx, NY
2019 Su-Casa at City Island through Bronx River Art Center, Bronx, NY
2019 Department of Cultural Affairs Greater New York Arts Development Fund 2019; (AAA3A)
2018 Bronx Children's Museum artist (1 of 3) selected to propose an installation
2018 Su-Casa through Loisada Inc., Lower East Side, NY
2018 Department of Cultural Affairs Greater New York Arts Development Fund 2018; (AAA3A)
2018 The Lincoln Center Cultural Innovation Fund - The Point, Hunts Point, NY
2018 Henry Settlement / SU-CASA by Loisaida Center, NY
2018 Department of Cultural Affairs Greater New York Arts Development Fund 2018 : (AAA3A), NY
2017 Cultural Immigrant Initiative Workshop grant through BRAC in Soundview, NY
2017 SU-CASA through Bronx River Arts Center working at JASA, Throgs Neck, NY
2017 Department of Cultural Affairs Greater New York Arts Development Fund 2017 : (AAA3A), NY
2009 Department of Cultural Affairs Greater New York Arts Development Fund 2009 : (Bronx Blue Bedroom Project)
2008 The Bronx Museum of the Arts: AIM 28 (Artist in the Marketplace)
2008 Bronx Council On The Arts: BRIO (Bronx Recognizes Its Own)
Residencies
2023 - 2024 LMCC; New York, NY; September - June
2023 Lost and Found Lab; Cos Cob, CT; January
2022 Dafnomili Residency; Athens, Greece; June - August
2022 Orient Point Lighthouse; NY; May
2022 Wave Hill Winter Workspace; Bronx, NY; January – February
2021 Artist Research Fellowship of the Hispanic Society Museum & Library; New York, NY
2021 Bridging the Divide - an Artbridge Residency at Mitchel Houses; Bronx, NY
2020 Governors Island Residency with Bronx Art Space; New York, NY; September - October
2020 ARC-Athens Virtual Resident; June, 2020
2019 AIM - The Block Gallery; Tribeca, NY; January - June
2018 Carian: Michoacán, Mexico; July - September
2013 artAmari : Amari, Crete; May 1 - 20
Bibliography
2022
Dozier, Ayanna, "5 Latinx Artists Using Abstraction to Address Precolonial Histories", ARTSY
2020
Cassell, Dessane, "Photographs Document a Father’s Journey for Justice, One Run at a Time", HyperAllergic
2018
Jackson, Danielle, "Art Spaces Can Bridge Social Divides — But First You Need to Know Your Neighbor", ArtSy
2015
Heartney, Eleanor, "Pow! Sok! She's back!", ART NEWS
2014
Georgiou, Alkisti, "Figuras del Alma", LIFO
2013
Davson, Victor, "SuperHUMAN", The International Review of African American Art (IRAAA)
2012
Pavlaki, Despina, "Tearing Down the Walls", Athens News
2012
Amezkua, Blanka, "State of Creative Emergency", HuffPost Arts
2011
Stergiou, Lina, (ed.). "Athens Here and Now - Blanka Amezkua: 3///3 ...three walls on wednesdays...", Against All Odds Project (AAO) - Ethics/Aesthetics
2008
Carlin, T.J. "Arty Party - Bronx Blue Bedroom Project", TimeOut New York
2008
Smith, Roberta. "Emerging Artists" & "Artists Leap Into the Moment", The New York Times
Talks
2022
Roundtable discussion "Artists' Perspectives on the Collection" at Hispanic Society moderated by Dr. Madeleine Haddon, guest curator for Nuestra Casa: Rediscovering the Treasures of the Hispanic Society Museum & Library
2020
"In conjunction with The Future is Latinx": moderated by Yulia Tikhonova at Eastern Connecticut State University; Windham, CT
2019
"Craft and community": a panel discussion as part of the show Hand & I moderated by Yulia Tikhonova at Dorsky Gallery Curatorial Programs; LIC, NY
"Conversation Rooted in Neighborhood: Bronx Artists Working in Their Communities". Invited to be a part of the panel for Ronny Quevedo's Higher Sails at La Morada organized by A Blade of Grass at Bronx Art Space; Bronx, NY
2018
"Corners, Body, Lines: Blanka Amezkua". Artist presentation curated by Kristen Evangelista at William Paterson University; Wayne, NJ
"Women on the Frontlines": NoMAA's Technical Assistance Institute 2018, November 3. Panelist. NY
"Integrative Studio: Avatar": invited artist by Juanli Carrion; School of Art and Design, History and Theory, Parsons School of Design. November 11. NY
Invited artist by Damali Abrams; November 7. York College Jamaica, Queens, NY
2010
"A Complex Weave, Women and Identity in Contemporary Art Symposium"
: Keynote speaker Eleanor Heartney. Artist presentation. Towson, MD
Books and Catalogues
"RISING UP, LIVING ON",
Catherine E. Walsh; Duke University Press; 2023
"Alternative Histories",
Exit Art, NY 2012
"sExplosion: Penis & Vagina Relationships in the Contemporary Arts",
Booze Cooperativa, Athens 2011
"Taking AIM! : The Business of Being an Artist Today",
NY 2011
"Against All Odds Project: Ethics/Aesthetics",
Athens 2011
"The Book: a contemporary view, Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts",
2011
"There Goes My Hero", The Center for Book Arts, NY 2009
"L'altra Penelope: Antologia di Scrittrici di Lingua Spagnola", a cura di Brigidina Gentile, 2009
"A Complex Weave: Women and Identity in Contemporary Art", 2008
"AIM 28", Bronx Museum of the Arts, NY 2008
"The S-Files", El Museo del Barrio, NY 2007
"Queens International", Queens Museum of Art, NY 2006
"Tactics and Strategies", Mission Cultural Center for Latino Arts, San Francisco 2006
Education
1993 California State University Fresno: Bachelor of Fine Arts
1997-1998 Accademia di Belli Arti, Florence, Italy; Scuola Libera del Nudo
Languages: English, Spanish, Italian and basic Greek