Artist Statement/ Biography

Mar Figueroa is an Ecuadorian-born painter currently based in New York. In her surreal autobiographical paintings, she explores her multifaceted identity and honors her Andean heritage. In 2020, she was recognized as a Forbes 30 Under 30 recipient in the Art & Style and Immigrant categories. More recently, she was an artist in residence at Silver Art's Project in the World Trade Center and awarded the Hopper Prize in 2023. She currently serves as a faculty member at the School of Visual Arts. Mar Figueroa received her education at the Rhode Island School of Design.

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In her paintings, Mar Figueroa explores the multiplicity of her identities as an Ecuadorian immigrant raised in her mother's traditional Andean cuisine restaurant in the US. Her practice is shaped by this restaurant, which served as a beacon for cultural continuity within her Andean community. The narratives within her artwork recount personal stories, shedding light on her immigrant journey, her heritage, ancestral wisdom, and spirituality. Using traditional Andean geometric design, Latin American folk art, and her environment as the foundation, she creates the space for her characters to live within and partake in daily rituals like cooking, praying, or engaging in shamanism. Through her artistic practice, she engages in a profound dialogue with all her identities, especially those that have long been silenced.< BACK