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Sheila C. Johnson Design Center
Arnold and Sheila Aronson Galleries
66 Fifth Ave
Parsons School of Design

(under)REPRESENT(ed) is an exhibition that features Parsons alumni of color whose creative practices explore the lived experience of race and aim to dismantle systems of racism.

Leslie Jiménez, BFA Fine Arts ’12

Leslie Jiménez is a Dominican-born multi-disciplinary artist and museum educator, based in NY.
Ms. Jiménez graduated from the prestigious Altos de Chavón School of Design, in the Dominican Republic. She was awarded a full scholarship from Parsons The New School, where she graduated with honors. Jimenez’ work has been selected for public art projects in Washington Heights and Harlem. She was invited to create a large-scale mural at El Museo del Barrio and recently collaborated on a tribute piece at Museum Mile Festival. Her work is included in the first Uptown Triennial in NY and it has been reviewed in the Financial Times and Manhattan Times. She is the recipient of the Sugar Hill Museum Residency award. Jiménez has been invited to talk about her work at El Museo del Barrio, CNN en Español, Rutgers University, City College, Art In FLUX and Parsons The New School.

Not For Coffee & Tea

Leslie Jimenez, BFA Fine Arts ’12
2013
Ceramic and human hair

This installation explores hair within the context of cultural identity, established standards of beauty and the effects of internalized racism in young girls. Using the Caribbean concept of coffee time "Cafecito" as a way to create a conversation.

https://www.lesliejimenez.com

How would you describe your day to day job and/or artistic practice?

I make art every day in my studio and collaborate with other artists in various projects. I teach visual arts to children of low income at the community conservatory in The Heights and I talk about art and the power of representation to students and museum visitors at El Museo del Barrio.

Would you describe your career path as typical? Why or why not?

I wouldn't describe it as a typical career path. In art, there's no such thing. In my opinion, there is not a specific structure one has to go through. A career in art is very uncertain, and surprising at most. I describe my career path as a glorious exploration and the result of the work I've done in search for a balance between life and art.

In what ways have your identities impacted your education and career paths?

It has allowed me to engage in a self-discovery process to make art about issues I care about, and work with people in my community who are like-minded.
Posted in Artists.