Rodrigo Valenzuela

Rodrigo Valenzuela (b. 1982) was born in Chile and lives and works in Los Angeles. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Art, UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture. Rodrigo Valenzuela’s work in photography, video, and installation is rooted in contradictory traditions of documentary and fiction, often involving narratives around immigration and the working class. 

Rodrigo Valenzuela constructs narratives, scenes, and stories that point to the tensions found between individuals and their communities, while also routinely mining the gap between fact and fiction. Typically, Valenzuela creates black and white tableaux arrived at through various media to explore how images are first produced, then reproduced ad infinitum. As an artist who immigrated to the U.S. and worked as an undocumented laborer before returning to school to study art, he brings an especially keen awareness of the immigrant experience to his art. Although Valenzuela's projects center on ideas of social justice and equity, his approach is always oblique and metaphorical, with equal attention given to formal concerns. 

Stature series

During Valenzuela’s residency at Graphicstudio he wanted to investigate the process of photogravure. In the Stature series Valenzuela builds what he calls “Studio Constructions” or “performances for the camera.” He created these images by setting a stage of cast concrete and clay objects formed from discarded electronics packaging. He does not glue or fasten the objects together but relies on the balance of the precarious compositions and arranges them as an abstract scene captured in the camera frame. He felt the richness and tonal qualities of the photogravure would add another dimension to these images.

Printmaking + Sculpture Terms

Printmaking Glossary

Sculpture Glossary

Sales

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Copyright + Reproduction

Images of the artwork are jointly owned by the artist and Graphicstudio. Reproduction of any kind including electronic media must be expressly approved by Graphicstudio.