CONTACT
Email: MarlenLugoArt@gmail.com
Instagram: @marlenlugostudio
ARTIST STATEMENT
I am fascinated by the ever-changing, amorphous qualities of nature—its fluidity, its roots that stretch and transform, its constant state of becoming.
Through my constructed artworks, I explore these concepts of genesis, form, history and aspiration that are so persistent in the culture of the Caribbean where I grew up.
My creative practice is rooted in daily drawing, where I observe and explore the world around me. These drawings form the foundation for larger works, which evolve in the studio where I allow the work to develop organically and evolve in unexpected directions. I use these sketches as starting points to reimagine forms, translating them into physical, three-dimensional works that move between abstraction and representation. I use paper, leather, wood, paint, metal and textiles for their ability to convey both the fragility and strength of the natural world. Each medium serves as a metaphor for the ways in which nature both shapes and is shaped by time, place, and experience.
While my process is at times intuitive, it is always informed by research and reflection on themes tied to my personal history and roots. These inquiries into memory, identity, and place deepen my understanding of the narratives I seek to convey. My work is a journey into the surreal, where images are never static but instead remain in a constant state of metamorphosis. Drawing inspiration from the fluid, ever-changing qualities of nature, I explore how forms can be both recognizable and fantastical, rooted in reality yet free to take on new and sometimes magical meanings. Ultimately, I seek invisible forces through visual depiction. A place of trance where a little magic may emerge and captivate. It’s deeply suggestive and partly occult nature. A re-rooting of sorts and an opening of the aperture to a world that is not often seen
ABOUT MARLEN
Marlen Lugo is a Puerto Rican-born artist whose multidisciplinary practice spans painting, sculpture, photography and mixed media, exploring the intersection of magical realism, cultural identity, and Present reality. Raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Lugo was profoundly influenced by the island’s rich cultural traditions, and shaped by post-colonial Iberian influences and new world establishment . This unique cultural lens continues to inform her art, which represents surreal figures and botanicals in a whimsical and connective way.
After moving to the United States to attend Tufts University in Boston, Lugo received a BFA and began to develop her signature multidisciplinary approach. Early works, such as the commissioned “Puerto Rican Tea House” for the Cambridge River Festival, explored cultural parallels, drawing connections between Puerto Rican Bohios (informal gathering spaces) and traditional Japanese tea ceremonies. The piece received widespread acclaim, and in 1991, Lugo was awarded a Fellowship in Sculpture from the Massachusetts Artists Foundation. In 1992, Lugo received a Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) to develop “Dulcinea and Her Imaginary Lover”, a sculptural and performance piece inspired by Don Quixote de la Mancha, which melded narrative, sculpture, and performance to reflect on identity and mythology. Following a move to New York in 1993, Lugo continued their exploration of site-specific works and received additional recognition through fellowships, including the Mid Atlantic Regional Fellowship for Sculpture and the Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation Studio Program.
In 2003 Lugo moved to Venice, California, where drawings became a better form of expression for the whimsical and fluid lines that collaging materials allowed. The layering of paradoxical images and organic imagery allowed to tell stories and create intimate and feminine large scale wall pieces. For the last three years, Lugo has been living in Nashville, TN, where her work has evolved to explore deeper connections to her heritage and the bridges between different cultures. Lugo has focused on creating layers—both physically and metaphorically—that allude to the genesis, form, history, and aspirations that thread our personal stories in a universal manner. Her latest public pieces, “Ruminations of the Tropics,” “Seedlings” & “Dispersal” continues to delve into the themes of nature and humanity and the supernatural. These three public presentations examined the complex balance between the physical and the spiritual, creating a multidimensional expression that reflects the interconnectedness of all cultures, regardless of origin. Conceptually, Lugo’s work explores the commonalities embedded in our roots, reminding us of the universal threads that bind us together. Through these layers, both literal and figurative, they invite viewers to reflect on the shared experiences and aspirations that unite us.
AWARDS, GRANTS & EXHIBITS
- Massachusetts Artist Foundation Sculpture Fellowship
- The Puertorican Tea House, Cambridge River Festival Commision
- Dulcinea and Her Imaginary Lover, NEA performance Grant
- Marie Walsh Foundation Studio Program NYC
- ICA of Boston group Show
- Revolving Museum Public Art Installations Boston
- Ace Gallery Group Show NYC
- The Distillery Solo show Venice CA
- Aster Studios Group Show Downtown LA
- Artville 2024 & 2025 Public Art Grants
