Stephanie Kim

My work is a coming-of-age story of Korean American identity. I focus on the experience of growing up in a Korean household but feeling the “Koreanness” fade away as we get older and live outside in the Western world. Stumbling through speaking Korean from lack of practice, Korean American adults grasp at what’s left of their Korean identity.

I depict this experience of cultural loss and longing by combining traditional Korean motifs and ceramic artwork with modern day artifacts and interests. Figurative sculptures are created with a sense of imaginative fantasy, pondering an alternate reality where one is just Korean and not Korean American. 

Korean American identity is different for everyone, as we pick and choose which values to embrace. My work carries on the stylistic and skillful qualities of Korean art, like moon jars and intricate surfaces with detailed drawings and carvings. The subject matter of my work, though, is inherently American, as it references key experiences of my personal life like living in San Francisco and my thoughts on American beauty standards.

My work aims to capture the uncertain and evolving identity of the new generation of Korean Americans. Each sculpture is a personal narrative, waiting to be noticed by someone who feels the same way.

Reniel Del Rosario

Reniel Del Rosario creates objects in clay and ceramic that playfully recreate or re-imagine familiar objects. From cakes to cigarettes to burial jars, these hand-built objects are made in the tens to hundreds and are full of imprints and inconsistencies. These objects are then gathered and put into a huddled crowd/pile or in socially interactive installations in public — mimicking consumer establishments, both highlighting the abundance of the objects as an antithesis for the love of the mass-produced.

These objects each carry the histories of the goods they mimic, whether it’s making forgeries of luxury objects, selling art as if it was a consumer object, or recreating lost artifacts in a contemporary setting. Within Del Rosario’s works there is consistently an exploration of value—cultural, monetary, and historical. What’s worth money and what’s not? Which objects throughout history have importance and which ones have been deemed useless? Which objects carry a loaded meaning subdued amid their common usage and acceptance? Value is toyed with and it’s up to the viewers to readjust their own valuation of the objects.

Note: Del Rosario is creating a new site-specific installation for Currently: Artists in Residence.

Michelle Solorzano

My work is a personal exploration of cultural identity, shaped by colonization, immigration, and assimilation. The Dominican Carnaval is central to this exploration, serving as both a vibrant celebration and a platform for confronting established norms. Through my art, I highlight the lasting impact of colonization on contemporary society and challenge its influence on our perception of aesthetics.

In my figurative ceramic sculptures, I integrate mixed media and found objects to add symbolic layers to the narratives. Color plays a vital role, serving to visually engage the viewer while conceptually opening a window to challenging topics like social and cultural assimilation. Drawing from “naïve” aesthetics, I incorporate Taíno symbolism and vibrant colors reflective of the Dominican Republic’s tropical climate.

Growing up in the Dominican Republic, I received a filtered, colonized version of my homeland’s history. Moving to the U.S. added complexity to my identity, prompting a lifelong commitment to researching overlooked aspects of Dominican history—elements lost, forgotten, or misrepresented. My work challenges preconceived notions and cultural ideals shaped by colonial influence, striving to restore a more authentic understanding of Dominican identity, a fusion of Taíno, African, and Spanish influences.

Surreal narratives and symbolism in my work explore the challenges of immigration, including language barriers, prejudice, and cultural assimilation. Duality and biculturalism are central to my practice, reflecting my navigation between American and Dominican identities. By embedding myself within these narratives, I seek to connect with my audience and humanize the immigrant experience.

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