NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ—Internationally-known visual artist Grimanesa Amorós hosted a lecture and silent auction at Mabel Smith Douglass Library at Rutgers, sponsored by The Institute for Women In Art (IWA).

“It is a great honor to have the opportunity to come and share the work that I do and I’m looking forward to the lecture,” Amorós tells New Brunswick Today.

“It’s installations that work with architectural spaces in different forms, collaborating with different fashions, museums, foundations, galleries, so it’s very good for us to see different spaces and types of collaborations as well.”

The event was a part of IWA’s Momentum: Women/Art/Technology, a series of exhibitions, film screenings, symposia and public discussions that explore the intersection of technology, art practice, and feminism, challenge gender-biased notions of leaders in art, and showcase female artists who are marking uncharted territory in the artistic realm. 

“Artistically, she is really breaking new ground with using technology in her work—engineering, math and lots of other technology ”, states Connie Tell, Director of the Institute for Women and Art.

Amorós presented still images and videos of exhibits that have been showcased around the world—including Beijing, Mexico, and New York City– sharing insight on the preparation and installation of each project.

She donated several of her artworks to a silent auction; All proceeds will go towards IWA programming.

The silent auction included packages featuring a limited edition plate called Conexión Dorada, one of the 350 plates in a series that was made for Harper’s BAZAAR ART CHINA Art Basel Hong Kong, according to IWA.

Using her diverse interests in social history, scientific research, and critical theory, Amorós ’s artwork is multi-dimensional, incorporating sculpture, lighting, and cutting edge technology to create and install art that is literally one of a kind.

Each piece of art is made specifically for the location that is it going to be displayed in; She researches the history and community of the location for inspiration.

“I didn’t want to make my work for it to sit in the studio, but to share it with others”, states Amorós.

Besides architecture and engineering, she is also inspired by classical music, poetry, and rap music,–thanks to her teenage daughter.

“Because I have a teenage daughter, I learned to like rap,” she says and laughs. She also goes to concerts with her daughter and likes to learn the new dance moves of today’s generation.

Amorós started college double majoring in Art and Psychology, but stopped pursuing the Psychology degree three months before she was finished.

“Imagine the dismay of my parents! But, I have no regrets because now I do what I love”, says Amorós with a smile.

Throughout her career, Amorós has worked with countless art galleries and venues around the world, creating exhibits and public works, receiving many grants and awards, and  participating in film festivals, lectures, and art shows.

Born in Lima, Peru, Amorós discovered her love for art when she received postcard from a loved one with a picture of New York City.

She kept the postcard for 30 years–the same amount of time that she has been living in the Big Apple. The postcard is so special to her, that she even talked about it during her speech at the TEDGlobal Conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in October 2014.

An artist with decades of experience has lots of advice to share for art students.  Here was some of her advice:

  •  Identify what you are really passionate about. When you do what you love, its effortless and you don’t count the time. You don’t think about how hard it is or how long it will take.
  • Don’t have a time frame for your accomplishments because then you won’t suffer. It happens when it happens.
  • When you are applying for grants, only 5-7 people decide, not the entire world. If they don’t like it, it doesn’t mean it’s not good. It just means that it didn’t appeal to that group.
  • Always stay within your budget.
  • Follow your dreams.

Amorós ‘s artwork Light Between the Islands #2 (shown on the left), pictures of exhibits Breathless Maiden Lane, Fortuna, The Mirror Connection, Racimo, Uros House Times Square(shown below), and a video presentation of her work, Miranda, are all on display at the Mabel Smith Douglass Library.

When asked what she wanted the audience to take away from her lecture, she responded with three simple words: “Their own magic.”

More information about Grimanesa Amorós can be found on her website.