Art, Identity & Persistence: Juan Alonso-Rodríguez - by Papa Louche

In 1982, Juan Alonso-Rodriguez arrived in Seattle during an economic downturn. The Boeing layoffs had emptied the city, leaving behind a sense of uncertainty… but for Juan, it marked the start of a new chapter.

Born in Cuba, he lost his mother at five and was raised by his uncle and aunt in the U.S. Despite early challenges, including psychological abuse, Juan found solace in music, teaching himself guitar after being denied the piano because it was “for girls.”

Music became his first creative outlet, and he gained recognition performing at nightclubs. But his artistic path expanded when he transitioned to visual art. Inspired by Cuban architecture and artists like Wifredo Lam, Juan draws from his roots and the natural world. His work is deeply personal; each piece layered with memory, identity, and history.

His advice to emerging artists is simple but profound: “Be persistent.” He stresses the importance of recognizing personal achievements, especially during moments of doubt. “Look at what you’ve done. You’ve done it with your talent and personality, without stepping on anyone’s toes.”

Juan’s journey is a testament to resilience, the idea that art is not just about talent, but about endurance, authenticity, and an unwavering belief in one’s own voice.

Lifestyle || Historian.
Louche-ism*

Link to Original post HERE

WELCOME TO MY STUDIO

Going to an artist's studio is very different than going to a gallery. When you go to an artist's gallery show, you will hopefully, and most likely, see a cohesive body of work made specifically to be shown together. You want to tell a story with the show or express a thought or create a dialogue among the work exhibited. The unique experience of going to an artist's studio is that you get to see the grittiness of where, and sometimes how, the work gets made. It is also where you get a better sense of the artist's larger body of work, because it is where the "remnants", or unsold works from several bodies of work, over the years, go on long term vacation, until someone catches up with the artist's intentions and wants a "vintage" piece. I also want to state that these "leftovers" are not necessarily the runts of the litters. You can ask any artist if their favorite works are the first to sell and the answer is often, no. On many occasions, someone has come to my studio and been surprised that I have made works that aren't all indistinguishable from each other, as if my ability to create was limited to one very specific thought that relentlessly twirls around my head as I try to force it into art in order to be rid of it, which would make total sense, if that were the case. Now, I know what you're thinking. When you think of many well-known artists, you can easily recognize their style because of the very reason that you see that consistency in every work, and many artists do have a more singular focus that at times can become a beautiful obsession to explore throughout their lives, but it's not a one size fits all system in the world of creatives. In my case, perhaps being self-taught, it is more about experimentation, even though I do believe that a thread does tie all my work together. It is, after all, a reflection of my life, my world. I've been pleasantly surprised to go see shows of artists' earlier work or retrospectives and seen a much wider range of styles or ideas in the show that may not seem to some that they 'fit' but they are all part of the artist's journey in creativity.

Personally, I don't want to paint by rote. If I'm not a bit nervous about the outcome of a new work or if it's not challenging me in some way, it's probably not worth doing. I will be bored, and the work will probably be boring. It is the process of making art that feeds me. I feel I need to be learning something each time I create.

 Juan Alonso-Rodriguez

“Enter/return: Never-endings“

This exhibit at The En is titled “Enter/return:
Never-endings“, The opening reception will be February 24 from 5-7 PM.
The En is located at 4860 Rainier Ave S, Seattle WA 98118.

Curated by Tommy Gregory, “Never-endings” is a reference to the deep spiritual, religious and
historical undertones of the works in this exhibition. As humans we
return to the familiar for understanding, but the job of the artist is
to nudge us out of familiar territory. In their own way, each of the
artists in this exhibition reflects on timeless themes or references
canonical imagery. It’s the subtle twists in these works that offer us
a chance to see beyond formulas, stereotypes, or dogmas into new ways
of thinking.

Included artists:

Marin Burnett
The de la Torre Brothers (courtesy of
Koplin Del Rio)
Laurie Hogin (courtesy of Koplin Del Rio)
Ernesto Marenco
David Medina
Juan Alonso Rodriguez
Ben Wright

Juan Alonso-Rodríguez, Earthworks 3, 2020, acrylic and moulding paste on wood panel, 36” x 36”