Printmaking is celebrated for its accessibility and potential to promote artistic exchange and public dialogue. This unique print commission drew inspiration from the artistic relationships on view in Marisol to Warhol: Printmaking and Creative Collaboration. Painters Oscar Eduardo de Paz, Cony Madariaga, and Alim Smith were first paired with local organizations. The artists then worked with printmakers Matao Dreskin and Erica Honson from The Soapbox Community Print Shop & Zine Library, where the prints were produced, to realize their visions. In the final prints, the artists’ designs amplify the vital missions of Kuumba Academy, the Latin American Community Center, and Routh 9 Library & Innovation Center.
Originally from Chicago, Oscar Eduardo de Paz is now based in Wilmington, Delaware as an Artist in Residence at the Delaware Contemporary. He studied philosophy and public administration and policy at West Chester University. Oscar continued his academic research at the University of Delaware, conducting research on environmental injustice and community-based solutions such as community solar projects in Flint, Michigan (in the aftermath of the Flint Water Crisis), Pittsburgh, PA, and Chester, PA.
Following his academic pursuits, he merged his interest in social and environmental justice with his artistic practice. Oscar uses art as a means of critical inquiry and his own experiences of injustice as a starting point. Through symbolic representations, he constructs emotive narratives that draw attention to the negative impacts of capitalism on vulnerable populations.
Constanza (Cony) Madariaga was born in Santiago, Chile, and immigrated to the United States with her family at the age of seven. Now based in Wilmington, Delaware, she has found art to be the most constant force in her life—an ever-evolving space for growth, expression, and connection.
Her work is deeply rooted in her love for people and community, often reflecting the relationships and shared experiences that shape her world. As she continues to grow as an artist, Cony remains committed to fostering connections within her community, using her practice to inspire dialogue and bring people together.
Alim Smith is a Delaware-born, interdisciplinary artist. Alim’s path into the art world began in elementary school and blossomed when he attended Cab Calloway School of the Arts. His artistic process expands beyond a singular medium due to several years of applied studies in visual and communicative arts and photography. Alim’s creative exploration stems from experiences and events within his culture, applying a variety of ideas based on his knowledge of self and understanding of others.
Also known as Yesterday Nite, Alim’s surrealistic cultural artifacts are meant to shift and challenge viewer’s perspective. These captivating images have been featured in numerous publications and online platforms including Juztapoz, Afropunk.com, Interview Magazine, and Blavity. Notable commissions include illustrations for Rolling Stone, the art campaign for the drama Atlanta, and the album cover for Mac Miller’s posthumous Balloonerism.
This exhibition is made possible through support from Art Bridges. This organization is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts, a state agency, in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts. The Division promotes Delaware arts events on www.DelawareScene.com.
