Interview with Cuban artist and USF alumni William Omar Valdes (W.O.V.)

“I was born in Sancti Spiritus, Cuba and never really expected to come to the U.S. My dad won a Visa lottery to immigrate here and my mom was reluctant, but we bit the bullet and left everything behind. We first moved to Jacksonville, Fl. before moving down to Miami. Now I’m back down here after finishing my BFA at USF. When I first arrived to this country, I was overwhelmed by cartoons, ads, color television, and skyscrapers. These are some of the things that have influenced my work. I don’t necessarily see them as “models” or “guides”, but I pay attention to the messages they give us and how they transmit that message. This exposure to visual media allows me to better understand how my visual creations read to others. I like to find experiences in my life that are maybe unique from everyone else and focusing on that as well. Art to me can be anything. After the introduction to conceptual art, I truly believe that anything and everything can be considered art. Now if it’s “good” or “bad” art, that’s another conversation all together.”

“Representing my own bipolar, queer, and Latin experience is important to me, but that is more of an innate thing I already do. I can’t separate my own experiences from my art practice. I’ve been trying to incorporate more sculptural elements into my paintings, working on ideas of how to make a flat, 2-D surface into something that demands volumetric space or maybe bridges the transition between the two. I’m in a little bit of a weird limbo right now with my practice. With issues regarding the quarantine and BLM protests, I’m having a difficult time really focusing on my practice. I’ve recently began experimenting with oil pastels and other mediums and surfaces I’ve never used before. My favorite thing to paint are patterns and little tedious repetitive things because it allows me to zone out and really focus on the painting at hand.”

Instagram @wovlyfe