Artist Statement
One uniting factor in my art is my love of paper and fibers, especially when they’ve been reclaimed or upcycled and exude an ephemeral nature. The history and baggage a material or object possesses further inform the character of a piece and are critical in bringing art to life. The ways these mundane yet multifaceted materials can extend into their various two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms fascinate me to no end. When I encounter a challenge in imparting my vision with these rough or raw materials, it reflects the transformative struggle to become a more refined or authentic person. I believe this often Sisyphean task of perfecting art is no different than any other struggle we experience in everyday life. I believe every act of self-expression is a declaration of self-exploration. Creating and experiencing art nurtures self-reflection, epiphany, internal validation, and actualization.
Art is both an outlet for catharsis and healing as much as it is a catalyst for change. In my own life, this creative spark has guided me through times of turmoil and darkness. Having come out the other side a better person, I hope to share my personal narrative while highlighting the significance of place and community. I commonly reflect upon my familial heritage as a Filipino-American and the common theme of being caught between two worlds. However, it is my love and commitment to the unity of the human spirit that allows me to overcome these struggles of feeling forced into one camp or the other. As a result of all this, art is not only a sign of our humanity; it's a gift which guides us through the world and the role we play in it.
Biography
Renee Maderazo is an interdisciplinary visual artist, printmaker, mixed-media illustrator, sculptor, community activist, and storyteller. She explores a repertoire of materials and creative processes to recount aspects of her personal narrative, explore the surprising cross-cultural commonalities of Southeast Asian and Southwest Americana societies, celebrate intersectional identities, and proclaim universal themes of unity and liberation.
Maderazo’s most recent sculptures are visually wild, often evoking ideas of fractals, lattices, and braids. However, these sculptures maintain a sense of fine thought-provoking delicacy through the persistent use of paper, fibers, and other remnant materials. In contrast, her two-dimensional works are often densely layered compositions of collaged images, illustrated patterns, and printed textures. Her compositions always embrace bold and vibrant color palettes, which surround her subjects in scenes of assembled ornamentation.
Beginning in 2016 while studying art at Santa Ana College (SAC), Maderazo served as a member of the SAC Mural Team, leading various public art projects to uplift marginalized student populations, including a four-sided mural above SAC’s Johnson Student Center. In 2018, after receiving her Certificate in Public and Community Art - Mural Design, she transferred to the University of Arizona to study mixed-media collage, relief printmaking, and book arts. After graduating magna cum laude with her BFA in Studio Art - Two Dimensional Studies in 2021, she joined the Cosanti Originals foundry at Arcosanti, learning the art of sand casting and lost-wax bronze casting, as she created the signature bronze wind bells. In 2024 she began her post-bachelor studies at Western New Mexico University, pursuing her Master of Arts in Teaching - Specialization in Art, where she continues a sculpture meets printmaking art practice that explores aspects of history, ecology, and one’s greater role in society.
