Alexia Benavent-Rivera

My work typically embodies the spirit of self discovery and embracing one's culture, in this case the three cultures I was born into: Panamanian, Puerto Rican, and Ukrainian. Recently I have been grappling to feel accepted in any one culture and exploring the different odd ways I actually do feel connected. I moved to the United States before my self identity was solidified, and I let others mold me to what I thought was more acceptable. My work reclaims my agency, and takes back space from those who took it from me. While traditional art will always have a place in my heart, I love the idea of experimenting with new mediums, especially digital. I’ll often create my first few drafts of a piece traditionally, going from sketchbook to canvas, before transferring it to my tablet to create a more refined digital version. I preserve the spontaneous essence of the traditional while gaining the greater flexibility of digital medium. When I’m not working on illustrations, my sculptural works vary vastly based on the materials at hand because I enjoy incorporating recycled and found materials, such as hub caps or reclaimed furniture. I feel a greater sense of purpose when reusing things because it gives them new life, vibrancy, and what was once trash is now something put on a pedestal which I find innately humorous. I frequently use a cross complementary color scheme that takes elements from both Ukrainian patterns as well as Latin American artwork. I also tend to draw inspiration from childhood nostalgia and refer back to particular life experiences that remind me of my heritage. From the jugs of water under every sink to the harmonious chirping of the coquí, my connections to my heritage lie not only with the culture but the small moments I experienced as part of it. As a child of the diaspora, this concept is something I have been exploring throughout my time at the University of Georgia and now as I pursue my Master in Fine Arts degree at Florida State University. My goal is to convey a message of introspection into one’s own roots.
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