R. Galvan
any/all pronouns
Boston, MA, USA
R. Galvan is a studio artist based in Medford, MA. They have completed residencies with Brashnar Creative Project, Staccion Center for Contemporary Art, the School of Machines, Making and Make Believe, and the Kolaj Institute. Galvan received a bachelor’s degree from Brown University and an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design. They were the 2018-2019 postdoctoral fellow at Duke University’s program in Latino/a Studies in the Global South. Galvan has exhibited work at the National Humanities Center, the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts, and internationally at the University of Coimbra (Portugal). They are a studio resident at the Boston Center for the Arts, an incubator for new creative projects.
“My studio practice has concentrated on the creation of a body of interconnected works exploring the theoretical and practiced construction of the self—an understanding of the conditions that compose and contrast reflections of one’s sense of being. I use forms, grids, text, drawings, photos, objects (fabricated or found) and repetitive actions to show ways that lived experience, a reality informed by a racialized and queer body, is categorized and governed by invisible systems of social (vanity) and administrative (labor) order. These investigations are contextualized through a Latinx subjectivity and queerness.”
How does your work relate to the theme connection?
“'For decorative use only’ read the disclaimer on bowl. Those words had an eerie parallel to social norms that typically go unspoken. And like a frilly bowl, of course, a chain marked ‘non-load bearing’ is not meant to carry weight, but what if it did? What if it was crafted make a person present and all of the emotional and psychological heft that a body might make real too? My work plays with this weirdness, focusing on the playful nature of the chain link necklace, which stands in stark contrast to its suggestive title. By exaggerating and ‘camping it up,’ I aim to bring attention the absurdity of these distinctions and invite a reflection on how we adorn ourselves within the confines of social expectations. Like living in a bubble—a bubble that travels with you wherever you go, encapsulating experiences and interactions with the world but always bringing attention to its presence—a bright colored necklace worn sets one apart from the world while also declaring their presence in the world. The boundaries between utility and decoration, presence and absence, invitation and provocation, and certainly repulsion and connection invite viewers to reconsider the roles and labels we accept without question."
"For Decorative Use Only" (yellow necklace), plastic, 27", 2024
"For Decorative Use Only" (green necklace), plastic, 27", 2024
"For Decorative Use Only" (blue necklace), plastic, 27", 2024What role does connection play in your creative process?
“‘Connection’ is foundational as a concept in my practice. Literally, the links in a chain necklace symbolize the interconnectedness with each join contributing strength and integrity of the whole, mirroring how personal and collective histories shape our identities. And, how despite the uniqueness or difference may separate individuals from each other and society. That is, to be queer and always connected is a paradox: to be apart from something can only exist if the something knows that you are there."
What connection(s) does your queerness make to the world around you?
“Being the boy who loves color is inherently queer and reinforces my commitment to bold self-expression. So despite being introverted, my queerness shapes interactions with the audience and the broader art community, inviting personal exchange and connection. And regarding my work, I designed my pieces without clasps or hardware, allowing anyone to slip them on over their head, much like a t-shirt. This gesture creates a contradiction I love: it’s the final layer of an outfit yet often the first thing others notice. This fluidity embodies a queerness that celebrates nonconformity and personal agency/self-expression."
