MOISES SALAZAR

A first generation, nonbinary queer artist working in Chicago, Moises Salazar’s practice is tailored to showcase the trauma, history, and barriers that marginalized and neglected bodies face. In their portraits of these figures, Salazar makes use of ordinary materials, especially paper mache, glitter, and textile, referencing the importance of these kinds of materials in the cultural development of Salazar’s own community and their longevity in the ways that their associated methods have been passed down for generations. In a way, the material comes to represent the experiences and stories of these many generations and honors their endurance as immigrants in an often unwelcoming place.

ABOUT THE WORK:

Reflecting on the lack of freedom that these bodies are given to exist in both physical and theoretical spaces, Salazar’s canvases serve as environments where their subjects can safely exist. The material incorporated into these paintings, in particular the use of fur (creating a sense of softness) and sparkly glitter (an invitation to spectacle) reenvision the future of the bodies that are portrayed. At the same time, the portraits are bold and erect, acting as contemporary altar pieces.