About

Contact Rafael Bensuaski Vieira

Commissions, shows and press
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phone: (415) 814-5894

In the late 70s, my family and I migrated to Miami from São Paulo, Brazil.  Growing up in and amongst Cuban-Americans’, social criticism of Fidel Castro’s Communist regime gave me an appreciation of our ability to freely critique our government through art.  

I later moved to the Bay Area to study fine arts at the San Francisco Art Institute.  After crisscrossing the country a few times, including a stint in rural and conservative Georgia, I am now a Bay Area Artist whose work can be characterized by my drive to examine the issues faced by the United States and my tendency toward social criticism.

My family and I arrived in the States without the proper documentation to work and in our own financial crisis.  In addition to factory work, my grandfather raised money as he introduced me to a game called treasure hunt as a child.  The hunting was Dumpster diving, and renewed trash was sold for the treasure of cash.  This thrill of ‘gifting’ with recycled goods has transferred to my conceptual art with the use of these ‘graceless’ materials.  I dignify working-class items by placing them in a gallery setting, modifying the use of blue-collar ready-made objects with security functions into works of art.  I transform these materials to create metaphors and caricatures as I blend realism and satire to depict current events.  I reference Neo-Dada Pop Realism, and my sculptures appeal to the viewer’s inner child and the playfulness that arises.  Vices, follies, abuses and shortcomings are held up to censure by means of ridicule, derision, burlesque, and irony – with idealistic intent.

Curriculum Vitae

Education:        San Francisco Art Institute     B.F.A.     Interdisciplinary Major     June 2002    

Professional Experience:

2011    Visiting Artist Instructor, Relief & Mono Printing , University of Guadalajara Norte, Mexico
2010    Artist Team: Los Sincuentas, Bay Area/Mexico
Mentor, South San Francisco High School Mentor Program, San Francisco, California

Art Teacher Arts With Elders    January 2008- present     San Francisco, CA
Instruct senior citizens at Central Gardens Convalescent Hospital, Laguna Honda Hospital, Nacarior’s Home Care, Western Park Apartments, Grand Sequoias and Hayes Convalescent Center in multiple mediums. Adapt art lessons to meet the individual needs of students who suffer from chronic illness including depression, dementia and sensory deprivation. Assist student preparation for annual juried art exhibit for the community.
Preparator  Mission Cultural Center, Driftwood Salon, AWE

06/05-08/07    Volunteer Teacher/Mentor        Opa-locka Elementary        Miami, FL
Created and taught a multi-level art curriculum with an emphasis on the impact of community arts Designed and taught hands-on science lesson plans for third and fourth grade students in accordance with state standards on South Florida’s habitat..  Created mentoring program for at risk youth. Led off-site visits for fishing and camping. Volunteer chess coach.

Awards/Honors:

2009     Marin MOCA, Best in Show, juror Ruth Braunstein
2006     Jakmel Galley, Best in Show, juror Gloria Dias
1997     Merit Scholarship SFAI

Selected Solo Shows and Performances:

2011    Exposition Graphica, University of Guadalajara, Colotlan Mexico
Americano, Driftwood Salon, San Francisco, California
2010    The Fat of the Land, Café Royal, San Francisco, California
The Fat of the land, L- Hub, Oakland California
2008    Property for Sale Performance, Picnic Islands, Miami, Florida
2007    Street Vendor Performance, Little Havana, Miami, Florida
2005    El Lunchero, Springs Auto Body, Miami, Florida

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2010  Expressiones Marin Community Foundation, California
An Artistic Perception on Migration, Galleria Zapatista, San Francisco, Ca.
Day of the Dead, San Francisco Symphony Hall, San Francisco
Fake Real Fake, L-Hub, Oakland, California
From the Matrix to Migration, University of Guadalajara, Colotlan, Mexico
Art Houses of Marin, Ritter Center, San Rafael, California
Lost and Found, Driftwood Salon, San Francisco, California
Art of the Mission, San Francisco City Hall, San Francisco, California
Contemporary Print Making, Marin MOCA, Novato, California
Illusions, Driftwood Salon, San Francisco, California
The Preview, Driftwood Salon, San Francisco, California

2009    Day of the Dead Show, MCCLA, San Francisco, California
Alchemy Show. Marin MOCA, Novato, California

2008   Art View, Constitutional Hall, Washington, D.C
Works On Paper, SF MOMA Artists Gallery, San Francisco, California
Experimental Political Drawings, MCCLA, San Francisco, California              
2007   Holiday Show, Root Division, San Francisco, California
Earth Day Extravaganza, Jakmel Gallery, Miami, Florida    
2004   Garage Sale, Warehouse Take over, Atlanta, Georgia
2002   Senior Show, SFAI, San Francisco, California
El Salon de Rejection, SFAI, San Francisco, California
For Those Who Were Butchered, SFAI, San Francisco, California
.
Bibliography:
2011   B TV, Berkeley
2010    Radio UDG Colotlan
Art is Moving Blog Spot. Oakland
Newswire.com
Marin Magazine
Art, Revolution and Journalism

Visiting Artist Lectures and Panel:
2011     La Graphica Mordena, University Of Guadelajara Norte, Mexico
2010     Life in the Art World, Mission Cultural Center
Creating Space for Creativity, San Francisco Main Library
2009     AWE, Genentech, San Francisco, California

Exhibitions Juried:   AWE 17thAnnual Exhibition

Collections:
University of Guadalajara Norte
Ron Collins Collection

 

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