My parents used to read the obituaries at the dinner table. I never really thought of death as a dark thing. As a small boy I’d cut out the faces in the obituary pages and paint in backgrounds. My mother is from Germany, and my father is from Cuba. My brother and I are both first generation Americans. My father and grandparents fled from Cuba when Castro took power, leaving everything behind. I see my multilayered imagery as honoring their history by presenting images of new life connected with the past - unafraid of changing environments or new identities.
My latest work features combined portraits of mixed race, gender and age. These paintings are “reincarnations” taken from photographs of anonymous people that were local to Seattle and have passed away. By combining these faces into beautiful, sometimes haunting compositions, I pay homage to their existence; creating persons that both existed and never existed at the same time.
Lucas Vidaña
Seattle, WA 98104
(857) 333 2935
lucasvidana@gmail.com
Education
2014 M.F.A., Massachusetts College of Art and Design 2012
B.F.A., Massachusetts College of Art and Design
Selected Solo Exhibitions
2018
Ghost Gallery. Seattle, WA
Victrola Gallery. Seattle WA
Cafe Vita. Seattle WA
2017
Marqueen Hotel. Seattle, WA 2016
Tin Lizzy Gallery. Seattle, WA
2014
MassArt Gallery. Boston, MA
2013
Unbound Visual Arts. Boston, MA
2010
Cafe Vita. Seattle, WA
Cafe Ladro. Seattle, WA
Victrola. Seattle, WA
2009
5th on Sixth Gallery. Bellingham WA
2008
Fantagraphics. Seattle, WA
2007
No Space Art Gallery. Seattle, WA
La Familia Gallery. Seattle, WA
2006
University of Texas, Austin. Austin, TX
Residencies
2000
Pilchuck Glass. Cold Working. Seattle, WA 1999
Clay Arts Center. Resident Artist in Fused Glass. Tacoma, WA
Commissioned Public Works
1999
My City (layered fused glass mural). Gig Harbor, WA.
2000
Komono (layered fused glass mural). Tacoma, WA.
2002
Welcome to Tacoma (painted mural). Tacoma, WA.
2003
Hard Edged Clouds (painted mural). Tacoma, WA.
Publications
2019
Seattle Times (interview)
2018
The Stranger (review) Seattle
Met Magazine (review)
2013
Unbound Visual Arts (interview)
2008
Bellingham Art Tank (interview) 2007
Cascadia Weekly (interview)
Whats Up Magazine (interview and cover)
2006
Redefine Magazine (interview)
Professional Experience
2012 - 2014
Fine Art Glass Fabricator, Tony Davlin Studio. Cambridge, MA.– High end fabrication of glass tiling.
2004 - 2006
Detail Artist, Studio C. Oceanside, CA.– Conservation detail and restoration for 2D media.
