Meet Joaquín Stacey-Calle | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Joaquín Stacey-Calle and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Joaquín, why did you pursue a creative career?
My family is filled with creative people; my dad draws beautifully, my mom creates incredible flower decorations, my grampa is a musician and draws too, my brother is an amazing pianist, my sister is a great singer, I have an uncle who is a painter, and much more, yet, no one pursued art as a career.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work deals directly with nostalgia, the fragility of memory, and how incredibly fast time can pass. I use oil painting as a way of slowing down in this fast-paced-technology driven world we live in, it is a way of contrasting and balancing. In my work, I reference from my own pictures, my dad’s lifelong documentation of my family, and old photos from my family’s archive. I link distinct imageries from different times to form symbolic narratives and meanings; the juxtaposition of these would have never happened if it was not in this context. In my artistic process, I challenge my attachment to objects by erasing, destroying, and permanently covering my work. This creates negative spaces that generate a sense of intrigue and curiosity that welcomes viewers to explore beyond the top layer of paint. My work creates different narratives by recontextualizing images of my personal and familial history.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would take them to see the great art places in Miami; De la Cruz Collection, The Frost Art Museum, Bernice Steinbaum Gallery, ICA, PAMM, and Rubell Museum. I would also take them to my favorite artists’ studios; Collective 62, Fountainheads, Bakehouse, and Laundromat. After showing them the art scene, I would undoubtedly take them to iconic places in Miami without forgetting to share their origins and the people that built them; Coconut Grove, built by Bahamians, Wynwood by Puerto Ricans, Overtown, Little River, Little Haiti by Haitians and Black people from the United States. I would also go to historic places like the Deering State, Fairchild Botanical Gardens, Vizcaya; there’s a lot to learn from these landmarks, and they acknowledge the people the land used to belong to; Seminoles, Tequestas, Mayaimi, and all other Indigenous people that occupied what is now known as Miami. This city is beautiful, and these places are just a tiny percentage of everything there is to see and experience. From Homestead to Coral Cables, the Everglades, and Miami Beach, there are thousands of places to go, small businesses to support, and history to learn.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Laced with Laureles, a mother and daughter floristry. Their flower arrangements are unique; they reflect the person’s personality the flowers are for. These are perfect gifts for any special occasion. And the owner, Amaris, is also a fantastic artist.

Their Instagram account is @lacedwithlaureles

Website: https://jstac009.myportfolio.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joaquin_stacey_