Prieta Art
Rosa Vargas
Ayiti (Haiti), Magua Caciquat Clan
Rochester, New York
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Rosa Vargas began her artistic career watching her mother sew garments from home for Fashion houses in NYC. As a teenager she followed her dreams of becoming a fashion designer attending Fashion Industries HS and FIT. After college she. Worked for Norma Kamali and Donna Karan. Rosa’s evolution from a fashion designer, painter, to a multimedia artist is reflected in the materials used in her art pieces. She weaves together her Afro-Caribbean and Indigenous roots with the immigrant experiences she had as a child immigrating from The Dominican Republic to NYC. Rosa transports her audience through her circle of life.
2027 “ON NATIVE LAND” CALENDAR ARTIST
What does “On Native Land” mean to you? My art is shaped by deep life experiences and a profound connection to land, place, and people. Every day, I move through the world mindful of the Native lands beneath our feet.
“Boca Chica” is a local beach in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic where I grew up. When I was a child all beaches had public access. Beach front was for all to enjoy. In the 70’s American, British, German companies started buying waterfront and building monstrosities as resorts. Blocking off access to beaches, polluting the environment and completely changing the natural landscape. Sound familiar? Colonization is still happening Today! In so many parts of the world. I hope this calendar can bring light to the many natural native landmarks and native earth being eliminated. Sold to the highest bidder.
“Dominican Dream” is a mixed media piece which represents Rosa’s immigration story from the Dominican Republic to NYC in the 80’s. It depicts the lush natural world that is the Caribbean, in stark contrast to the bustling environment of NYC. This multimedia work has you journey through her story and the juxtaposition of her two realities. Rosa enjoys showcasing the stark differences between two areas of land and people that are not only separated by oceans but also by culture.
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