Dreams
An exhibition by the CUE Teen Collective
June 1 - June 17, 2023
With works by:
Anna Bukhman
Bianna Chen
Carter Cohen
Rory Dawidowicz
EM
Zoe Laura-Jean Forbes
Ariel Frisch
Devon Gellert
Natalie Niselson
Julie Papageorge
Melanie Quiroz
World Be Free
Yaqueline
Organized by CTC Lead Educator Amanda Adams-Louis with support from CUE Programs Coordinator Maryam Chadury
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Images: Dreams student exhibition at CUE, June 1 - June 17, 2023.
Photos by Keenon Perry.
ABOUT THE EXHIBITION
Dreams is the sixth annual exhibition of the CUE Teen Collective. This group show presents works by thirteen young artists that consider the subconscious and aspirational qualities of dreams. Through experimentations in painting, photography, flm, illustration, ceramics, and soft sculpture, students in the program interpret the vast landscape of the mind and its perceptions and desires. Dreams seeks to open up portals of understanding and possibility that draw upon the ideas, emotions, and sensations of the next generation of artists as they cross the threshold to their future practice.
ABOUT THE CUE TEEN COLLECTIVE
CUE Teen Collective (CTC) is a free, year-long after-school program for high school students who are passionate about visual culture and interested in exploring careers in the fne arts. Through the program, students investigate various aspects of the contemporary art world, develop and refne their artmaking and critical thinking skills, and conceptualize and create artwork for a fnal group exhibition presented at CUE’s gallery space.
CTC offers behind-the-scenes access to the New York City art world, demystifying career paths in the arts while inspiring students to develop their own personal artistic voices. The program consists of talks with artists and curators, trips to gallery and museum shows, visits to art fairs, hands-on studio sessions, and more. Participants have the opportunity to learn from working arts professionals and build sustainable and rewarding careers of their own in the arts.
Additionally, participants form a community with their peers over the course of the academic year, sharing their work with each other and exchanging meaningful feedback on artistic concepts, techniques, and processes as they work together to develop and refne their artistic practices. At the culmination of the program, students present original artwork as part of a group show, for which they collectively decide upon the theme and content. Students also learn how to communicate their work through the development of visual and written materials for the fnal exhibition, including curatorial statements, artist statements, and artist biographies. Through this process, students learn how to envision, produce, install, and communicate an art exhibition in the same manner as working artists, organizations, and galleries all over the world.
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2022-2023 CUE Teen Collective Students
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Bianna Chen
Anna Bukhman
Ariel Frisch
Zoe Laura-Jean Forbes
Devon Gellert
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World Be Free
EM
Rory Dawidowicz
Carter Cohen
Yaqueline
Natalie Niselson
Melanie Quiroz
Julie Papageorge
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Rebecca Goyette leads students on a tour of several Lower East Side galleries
Phillips staff give students a tour of various sections of the auction house
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CTC visits From The Ground Up, a collective housing the studios of Mr. Ayobe and Charlie Liriano
Students work in groups to create social media accounts during a workshop led by Porcia Lewis
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Students take a trip to the Brooklyn Museum
Carlos Martinez Dominguez leads a screen printing workshop at CUE’s gallery space
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Dr. John Tyson gives a lecture on art history at CUE’s gallery space
Dionis Ortiz leads an art handling workshop at CUE’s gallery space
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ANNA BUKHMAN
Organized Mess, 2023
Crocheted yarn, stuffng
Dimensions vary with installation
ARTIST STATEMENT
Organized Mess is a small installation that brings insight into the type of comfort that exists inside of a child’s bedroom. Presenting a variety of handmade crochet items, from clothes to toys, the work intends to remind people of the serenity of their childhood and bring them back to a place of coziness and safety, to a time when they could dream big in a world that still encouraged it. As children grow, they let go of their stuffed toys and baby blankets. The loss of these material items is often paralleled by a loss of the ambitions they represent. The adult world can be a cold one, in which dreams sometimes need to be sacrifced for a reliable income. This work seeks to remind people of the aspirations of their youth, and emphasizes the importance of holding on to dreams because they can lead us to great possibilities.
ARTIST BIO
Anna Bukhman is a 16-year-old junior who attends Midwood High School. She fnds creativity in the chaos, molding it to her liking. She is interested in fne details and utilizes her observations in everything she does. Growing up on playdough and then becoming interested in jewelry design, Anna grew attached to the warmth that came from the tactility of art. Her practice then transformed into embroidery and most recently crochet, which she uses to bring her creations to life from spools of thread. Just as she has used weaving in her art, she has also weaved her life into a fabric web of memories, experiences, and dreams. Anna’s hope is to bring her passion forward to others, to remind them of simpler times, and to improve their lives.
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BIANNA CHEN
My Strega Nona from the series Little Dreams Before Bedtime, 2023 Hard colored paper, textured transparent paper, lamp base
12 x 6 x 6 inches
A Little Zodiac Story!! from the series Little Dreams Before Bedtime, 2023 White construction paper, wax pastels, lamp base
12 x 6 x 6 inches
Run with the Flowers from the series Little Dreams Before Bedtime, 2023 Mixed media paper, gouache, lamp base
12 x 6 x 6 inches
ARTIST STATEMENT
To me, dreams are associated with childhood. I often dream about experiences from my day-to-day life. In particular, when I immerse myself in something for a long time, I dream of interacting with the subject in a different way.
I interpret the theme of this exhibition as the feeling that I get when my life translates into my dreams. It is a feeling of familiarity, softness, and warmth. The warmth from the golden-colored lights in this series of work illuminates the space around it, but its intensity can be made comfortable to us through lampshades.
Before going to sleep, we turn off the lights, and lamps are often the last thing we see before we dream. In this hazy moment before sleep, we remember the experiences of our waking lives. For me, the most memorable events of the day usually come from stories I heard when I was growing up. Therefore, the lampshades depict the stories that play in my mind when I sleep.
ARTIST BIO
Bianna Chen is a 16-year-old junior at Millennium High School. With a foundation in realism and stylized art, she works primarily on fat surfaces, with light playing an important role in her work. This year, Bianna has shifted her approach to incorporate more three-dimensional elements. Her goal is to make accessible art that is affordable and that can be used in people’s everyday lives.
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CARTER COHEN
Untitled from the series Hazy, 2023
Photography print
11 x 14 inches
Untitled from the series Hazy, 2023
Photography print
16 x 20 inches
Untitled from the series Hazy, 2023
Photography print
11 x 14 inches
ARTIST STATEMENT
Untitled from the series Hazy, 2023
Photography print
11 x 14 inches
Untitled from the series Hazy, 2023
Photography print
11 x 14 inches
I interpret the theme of this show through the idea of “where dreams and reality meet”. This idea is inspired by the feeling of haziness that comes along with our memories; it is often unclear whether these experiences are real or imagined. The idea is also inspired by my love of magical realism. For some of the photos, I drew inspiration from the dreams of my friends. For others, I combined imagery from childhood with magical or mythological imagery. I choose to work with digital photography while also using Spektrem Effects, just another blur camera flter. I selected this flter because I believe it gives the lighting a slightly otherworldly effect while maintaining the realism of photography.
ARTIST BIO
Carter Cohen is a photographer from New York City who currently attends The Hewitt School as a junior. Beyond her photography studies at Hewitt, she also studied at the Cow House Studios in Ireland. Carter’s current work centers around nature, with a slightly magical fare. Among other hobbies and interests, she enjoys reading, baking, and ice skating.
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RORY DAWIDOWICZ
Can’t Understand, 2023
Acrylic on canvas
10 x 8 inches
Tore Open, 2023
Acrylic on canvas
10 x 8 inches
Heart Tattoo, 2023
Acrylic on canvas
10 x 8 inches
Broken, 2023
Acrylic on canvas
10 x 8 inches
My B, 2023
Acrylic on canvas
10 x 8 inches
ARTIST STATEMENT
I interpreted the theme of this exhibition as the literal manifestations of the dreams that I have while sleeping. My dreams have very contradictory narratives, and I chose to show that with fve works that represent the disparate parts of my mind dreaming together. Three artworks convey the darker narrative of my dreams, with a color palette consisting mainly of green and black hues and a stark contrast of red. The other two artworks are much brighter, conveying an overall feeling of love and joy with a color palette of pinks, greens, and whites combined with things that symbolize a happier narrative between the fgures portrayed. The techniques and materials I use also show this contrast. The darker works have more rugged, harsher lines and uses a mix of acrylic and graphite to make the narrative clearer. The brighter work is softer, using only acrylic in cleaner application methods. As much as I love dark, even horror-like themes in art and literature, I am still a romantic at the end of the day.
ARTIST BIO
Rory Dawidowicz is a 16-year-old artist from Queens, New York with a lifelong passion for creating art. They are currently a junior at the High School of Art and Design where they major in illustration. Victoria’s multimedia work focuses on darker and surreal themes. Their work has been presented in their school’s gallery multiple times, and two of their pieces have received honorable mentions in the Scholastic Art and Writing competition. Victoria aspires to become an art teacher, using their passion and joy for creating to help shape future artists after them.
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Withheld from the series Out of Body, 2023
Digital illustration on paper
15 x 20 inches
Tides of Mind from the series Out of Body, 2023
Digital illustration on paper
20 x 20 inches
Deep Blue from the series Out of Body, 2023
Digital illustration on paper
16.5 x 20 inches
ARTIST STATEMENT
This series focuses on the surrealist aspect of dreams, particularly the different interpretations that one can have from various dreams and the deeper meanings of what someone can experience in a dream. The series magnifes the out-of-body experience of dreaming, with each work centered around different aspects of it. The three works represent aspects of positive and negative dreaming, and how this can be manifested from a person’s current emotional state. Withheld focuses on the loneliness of dreaming, while Tides of Mind expresses the emotional turbulence that a person can experience and how it manifests into a dream. The purpose of this series is to highlight the subconscious mind and how it impacts a person’s conscious and subconscious state.
ARTIST BIO
EM (Barbera) is a Chinese-American artist from NYC. They are currently fnishing their junior year at the High School of Art and Design, where they major in cartooning. Their digital work primarily focuses on people and characters as subjects. As a bassist and guitarist, Em also integrates music into their art practice. They have won several awards through the ArtsConnection program, and wish to continue developing their skills in visual arts. It is Em’s aspiration to work in an art-related feld in the future and to continue developing their skills in visual arts.
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EM
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ZOE LAURA-JEAN FORBES
Wide Mouth from the series Strange Faces, 2023
English porcelain, wire, brown paper
6.5 x 3.5 x 4 inches
Sorrow Head from the series Strange Faces, 2023
English porcelain, wire, brown paper
6 x 4 x 4 inches
The Long Face from the series Strange Faces, 2023
English porcelain, wire, brown paper
8 x 2 x 2.5 inches
ARTIST STATEMENT
I decided to take a darker interpretation to the theme of dreams. The series of faces displayed are purposefully strange looking, distorted, and surreal in their own unique ways. The idea was to represent the faces of a nightmare: eyes missing; mouths open a little too wide; long, strange-looking stretched out faces; a limb that doesn’t really belong; faces with features that can’t be real and make you feel uneasy–the faces you’d see in a scary dream. The colors I chose are muddy and unpleasant to further disturb the viewer, and the dripping glaze represents tears. I chose to sculpt these faces because I love exploring the concept of dreams through surrealism, blending together what is real and what is imagined. This refects my own selfhood and how my dreams often confuse me when I wake up, making me question what is true and what is fake. The color on the sculptures were made with a special glazing technique called terra sigillata; instead of mixing clay with water as with other glazes, the clay and water are left to sit for at least 24 hours before only the top, the most refned part of the slip, is used to cover the ceramic. This makes the outer ceramic shell of the sculpture very thin, so you see all of the texture and detail of the clay beneath it. When glazing The Long Face and Wide Mouth, I submerged the sculptures completely to give their colors an uneven effect.
ARTIST BIO
Zoe Laura-Jean Forbes is a 16-year-old artist currently in her sophomore year of high school. She makes work in many mediums, including painting, drawing, photography, cartooning, and most recently sculpture. Her sculpture practice has developed through exposure to her mother’s ceramics business and studio in Brooklyn, where Zoe produces her work. The glaze techniques she uses are greatly infuenced by her mother and resemble the cups and fasks scattered around the studio.
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ARIEL FRISCH
Thursday’s Child from the series Young Blood, 2023 Paper, vinyl record, canvas, acrylic paint, hot glue
11 x 14 inches
The Adults Are Talking from the series Young Blood, 2023 Composite image on paper
11 x 14 inches
Almost (Sweet Music) from the series Young Blood, 2023 Collage on ukulele
26 x 9 inches
ARTIST STATEMENT
This series of work represents my love for music and my dream of pursuing it in the future. Thursday’s Child, named after the David Bowie song, depicts me standing next to my father’s album cover. My face is painted in a similar fashion to that of my father and grandfather, who are pictured beside me. This relays the relationship I have with my father; I consider him an inspiration and would like to follow in his footsteps. The name of the work, aside from drawing from the song title, is especially ftting since all three of us were born on a Thursday. The Adults are Talking, named after the song by The Strokes, is about the feeling of performing for an unreceptive audience, similar to when you perform for your family. The people pictured are musicians who have inspired me in one way or another, and this work conveys my fear that those who have inspired me may not like the things I create. Almost (Sweet Music), named after the Hozier song, is an ode to all the music that has led me to create my own. From iconic albums by famous artists to music produced in a garage in Kentucky, the ukulele is collaged with images that have infuenced me. The song it is named after was written as a thank you to the musician’s infuences, so in a way I’m seeking to mirror this concept. The ukulele that I used was my frst good quality instrument, so its sentimentality is an important aspect of the work.
ARTIST BIO
Ariel Frisch is a multimedia artist and musician living in New York City. She grew up on the Upper West Side and currently attends the Hewitt School. Ariel aims to make the world a prettier place with her art, and she makes great use of pastel colors and bold visuals in her work. Her longest running project has been decorating her room, with the goal of covering every inch of it by the time she leaves for college. Besides making art, she enjoys writing poetry and music, spending time with friends and family, and visiting the beach.
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DEVON GELLERT
escape the nightmare from the series mirroring fears of dreams, 2023
Oil pastels, acrylic paint, colored pencils, chalk, string, hot glue, mirror, CD 16 x 20 inches
i am a shattered mirror from the series mirroring fears of dreams, 2023
Acrylic paint, paper, cardstock, hot glue, clay, oil pastels, pencil, colored pencils, string, mirror, small objects
16 x 20 inches
heal towards dream from the series mirroring fears of dreams, 2023
Acrylic paint, hot glue, turf, oil pastels, chalk, colored pencils, mirror, cardboard 16 x 20 inches
ARTIST STATEMENT
My series consists of three mixed media works that incorporate pastels, colored pencils, acrylic paint, chalk, and some everyday items of my own such as turf, mirrors, string, and a CD. I am inspired by my own interpretation and experiences with dreams, and I connected the three paintings through a common theme of mirrors and music. I wanted to convey the relationship between nightmares and dreams, and how nightmares come from past experiences. The shattered mirrors begin the nightmares with the frst work and throughout the others, the mirrors are still present but they do not interfere with the dreams. I wanted to represent the idea of using music to help one tolerate their nightmares. The closer one stands to the works, the more various patterns–such as the color of the shirts, music notes, records, etc.–become evident. I was drawn to mixed media because it allows me to experiment with various materials and techniques in order to create unique works of art. My creative process involves a lot of experimentation with materials and techniques, as well as a lot of planning and sketching out new ideas.
ARTIST BIO
Devon Gellert is a 16-year-old girl from Manhattan. She is a 10th grade student, and currently attends the Hewitt School. Devon is passionate about art and enjoys working in various mediums, including painting, drawing, sketching, and clay. In her free time, Devon enjoys working on her art projects as well as listening to music, especially Taylor Swift. Devon has been thrilled to make artwork for the fnal exhibition at CUE Art Foundation as a means to further develop her practice and explore new ideas.
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NATALIE NISELSON
Fly Away from the series Nature’s Dreamscapes, 2023 Oil on canvas
10 x 20 x 1 inches
Waterfall of Faith from the series Nature’s Dreamscape, 2923 Oil on canvas
10 x 20 x 1 inches
Snowed In from the series Nature’s Dreamscape, 2023 Oil on canvas
10 x 20 x 1 inches
ARTIST STATEMENT
As an artist, I am fascinated by the relationship between humans and the natural world. In my series of three works, entitled Nature’s Dreamscapes, I explore the relationship between young women and the beauty of nature that surrounds them. My work is a celebration of the delicate balance between humanity and the environment, and the powerful emotions that arise from this connection. Each work in the series presents a surrealistic portrayal of a girl intertwined with nature, showcasing the unique bond between the two. I place a strong emphasis on portraiture, capturing the delicate nuances of the human form and the emotions that accompany it. Each girl is depicted in a dreamlike state, surrounded by vivid natural elements that emphasize the beauty and fragility of life. Through this series, I hope to convey the sense of wonder and awe that comes with exploring the natural world, as well as the peace it can bring. I seek to create a space for contemplation and refection, allowing the viewer to connect with the beauty and complexity of nature. The surrealistic elements in my work serve to highlight the ethereal and otherworldly aspects of this connection. At its core, my work is about the power of nature to inspire and heal us, and the deep connection that exists between humans and the environment. By bringing these ideas to life in my art, I hope to encourage others to connect with the natural world and to fnd their own sense of peace and harmony within it.
ARTIST BIO
Natalie Niselson is a young artist born in the bustling city of New York. From an early age, she developed a deep appreciation for art, inspired by her vibrant heritage and the beauty of nature and people. Natalie’s talents have earned her numerous accolades. She earned frst place in the 2022 Congressional Art Competition, and as a result, her work is displayed in the U.S. Capitol Building. She is also the recipient of the Scholastic Gold Key award. As she continues to grow as an artist, Natalie remains committed to exploring the world around her through the beauty of art. With each stroke of the brush, she invites us to see the world through her eyes and to experience the magic and wonder of life.
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JULIE PAPAGEORGE
Vulnerability from the series Reverberating thoughts, 2023 Oil on art board
16 x 20 inches
Eat your heart out from the series Reverberating thoughts, 2023 Acrylic on canvas
18 x 14 inches
Lingering hopes from the series Reverberating thoughts, 2023 Watercolor on paper
12 x 16 inches
ARTIST STATEMENT
The word “dreams” may elicit many different feelings and ideas, but for me it means the images and experiences we have while unconscious. To me, dreams are the scrambled up and strangely symbolic messages of ideas we subconsciously obsess over. My inspiration for this mainly came from Jungian ideas about the subconscious and psychological research focused on what our dreams mean. I chose to present this through a collection of works that represent the ideas that echo in my mind as a dream. My process of creating this series was to make surrealist visual depictions of things that appear in my dreams and that also reappear in my thinking. Painting is a form of expression, but paintings are often depictions of things of value; their history as portraits of rich and wealthy nobles is a symbol of this. If I can immortalize the struggles that affect me and others like me, such as women or people who struggle with mental health, then I might be able to contribute a better understanding of these issues. The end goal and take away for all of these works is that these issues bounce around in others’ minds until they are able to get them out. We have to discuss our deep-seated issues with others, or express them in some way. I’m interested in inspiring others to care for their mental health through conversation or therapy through the act of playing with the archetype of the insane artist.
ARTIST BIO
Julie Papageorge, age 16, lives in Jackson Heights, Queens, and attends the High School of Art and Design as a sophomore. She primarily creates surrealist, semirealistic work, often focused on the symbolism of the subject. She works across multiple mediums, preferring watercolor, pen and ink, digital, and oils. Some of her interests consist of reading novels, fostering cats, and fencing. Julie’s goal is to become a psychologist or therapist. It is Julie’s belief that the way art makes her think about the world and the feelings of others prepares her for this empathetic career and for helping people with their psychological issues. This body of work aims to not only serve her portfolio for college and job applications, but also to showcase her technical and symbolic talent. She uses art as a way to visualize her feelings more precisely than words can express.
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MELANIE QUIROZ
The hands that feed us from the series
To live is to dream, 2023
Film
Dimensions vary with installation
Red protection from the series
To live is to dream, 2023
Gesso, acrylic, oil pastels on canvas
12 x 16 x 1.5 inches
The last lesson from the series
To live is to dream, 2023
Acrylic and oil pastels on canvas
12 x 16 x 1.5 inches
What I do for her from the series
To live is to dream, 2023
Gesso, acrylic, oil pastels on canvas
12 x 16 x 1.5 inches
ARTIST STATEMENT
A reminder and a tribute from the series
To live is to dream, 2023
Acrylic on canvas
12 x 16 x 1.5 inches
Belief from the series
To live is to dream, 2023
Gesso, acrylic, oil pastels, paint markers on canvas
12 x 16 x 1.5 inches
Doubt from the series
To live is to dream, 2023
Gesso, acrylic, oil pastels, sharpie on canvas
12 x 16 x 1.5 inches
While exploring the theme of dreams, I kept coming back to the passion I have for following my dreams. I also thought about how every person at some point had, has had, or will have a dream they care about deeply. This flled me with joy but also a lot of sadness. So many people’s dreams die, murdered by people who also had their dreams killed. Experiencing something similar this year, and it seems that during what may be the loneliest year in my life, I have been kept alive by my dreams. Through these seven works, made of oil pastel, acrylic, collage, and video, I explore the passion of a person who put their very all into their dreams with dedication so strong that it can be both beautiful and ugly. I chose these materials because they are the ones I enjoyed as a child and that I’ve developed a love for over time, thanks to my art teacher, who I had for eight years, and my personal practice that is inspired by my family and the desire to capture many moments with them. In the series, I include some symbolism from my cultural and personal experiences as well, such as the color red and the image of my own bloodied hand that still holds onto the little dreams I started with that have grown so big now.
ARTIST BIO
Melanie Quiroz has always had a strong love for creating things. Now a junior in high school, her passion to make art has continued to grow. Growing up as a Chicana in the Bronx, she has been surrounded by hardworking people who inspire her to follow her dreams of working in art of all different mediums, including painting, poetry, and flm. Melanie’s drive and dedication have also led her to participate in the Drama League and to take classes in flm and storytelling at NYU. She continues to be inspired by the people around her and by her vivid imagination to keep her art alive.
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WORLD BE FREE
To Fly You Must Fall, 2023 Film
Dimensions vary with installation
Feel Everything from the Untitled Portrait Series, 2023
Acrylic and oil stick on paper
9 x 12 inches
ARTIST STATEMENT
Acceptance is Key (Zanzibar) from the Untitled Portrait Series, 2023
Acrylic and oil stick on canvas paper
12 x 16 inches
Fake Strings from the Untitled Portrait Series, 2023
Acrylic and oil stick on paper
9 x 12 inches
To Fly You Must Fall, [2023] is a short flm that delves into the depths of my subconscious. The flm unveils a recurring nightmare; an unsettling vision of a powerless, naked, screaming, and freefalling man stripped bare of his limbs. As the man plummets perpetually, he is condemned to relive his horrifc descent, only to die and be reborn once more. The flm serves as a symbol for man’s illusory sense of agency and his perceived control of life’s forces, an illusion that persists until his metaphorical wings are clipped. Expanding beyond the original confnes of the nightmare, the limbless husk reassembles himself and grows ethereal wings, reclaiming control of his suffering and breaking free from his torture. This profound metamorphosis recognizes that true liberation lies not in avoiding suffering, but in embracing it–and ultimately, in discovering the wings that lie dormant within, those that enable us to soar beyond the constraints of our self-imposed limitations.
Untitled Portrait Series, 2023, features a triptych of artworks: Feeling Everything , Acceptance is Key (Zanzibar), and Fake Strings. Spontaneously layering oil stick and acrylic paint, I take a transformative approach to painting, endeavoring to transcend the traditional boundaries of portraiture. My self-portraits begin in the realm of representation, but are slowly manipulated and abstracted, deviating from their initial conception by layering and scraping away paint. Embracing the aesthetic of neoexpressionism, I seek to manifest my innermost dreams and emotions, attempting to provoke visceral reactions from those who engage with my works. Through these portraits, I purge the intricacies of my unconscious mind and psychological tapestry.
ARTIST BIO
World Be Free (Claudio Cofré) is a 16-year-old NYC-based artist currently attending the High School of Art and Design. Inspired by projects such as Shepard Fairey’s Obey Campaign and Basquiat and Al Diaz’s SAMO, World Be Free (W.B.F.) is a pseudonym for an aspiring street art iconography symbol. As a multimedia artist, he paints portraits informed by neo-expressionism, photographs a plethora of subjects, and studies flm in school. Immersed in the realm of collectivism, W.B.F. often collaborates with like-minded contemporaries, such as videographer and visual artist Meraki; artist and musician
Prince Morales; and photographer and flmmaker Helsen Sanabia. His vision extends even further, as he hopes to one day establish a haven for artists of his generation––a space akin to a salon where young individuals from different backgrounds can exchange ideas and create together. W.B.F.’s dream is to become an enigmatic and recognizable visual phenomenon that is evocative and accessible to anyone. He seeks to ignite a universal response to his artwork.
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“In the face of absolute powerlessness, all one can do is scream.” --W.B.F
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YAQUELINE
Where’s our happy family? from the series Failed Dreams, 2023
Acrylic and gouache on canvas
16 x 12 inches
Even now from the series Failed Dreams, 2023
Acrylic and gouache on canvas
14 x 11 inches
Empty auditorium from the series Failed Dreams, 2023
Acrylic and gouache on canvas
10 x 10 inches
ARTIST STATEMENT
My interpretation of dreams is through the melancholy of a failed dream. Many people may not want to think of or talk about the idea of “failure,” but I think that it’s important to look back on the stages of your life to know what worked for you and what didn’t, and to reposition what you or others consider to be a failed dream. My series of paintings is based on dreams that either I or others in my life have had when younger, but did not reach. As far as medium, I used acrylic and gouache paints because I prefer to improvise in painting without having a structured plan. I started to draw at a young age to pass the time, and I slowly began to sketch things that I enjoyed, such as the solar system and dinosaurs. Gradually, I began to paint more and more after being inspired by seeing Impressionist paintings. This series is also informed by those references and inspirations.
ARTIST BIO
Yaqueline was born and raised in Queens, New York City. They are currently a junior at the High School for Law, Advocacy, and Community Justice, where they participate in the law club, varsity soccer team, and, until recently, the debate team. Yaqueline is a self-taught artist who developed an interest in painting and sketching at a young age. In 2022, they worked at NYU Visionary Studios. Aside from art, Yaqueline has a long held interest in law and aspires to be an immigration or family lawyer.
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ABOUT CUE
CUE Art Foundation is a nonproft organization that works with and for emerging and underrecognized artists and art workers to create new opportunities and present varied perspectives in the arts. Through our gallery space and public programs, we foster the development of thought-provoking exhibitions and events, create avenues for mentorship, cultivate relationships amongst peers and the public, and facilitate the exchange of ideas.
Founded in 2003, CUE was established with the purpose of presenting a wide range of artist work from many different contexts. Since its inception, the organization has supported artists who experiment and take risks that challenge public perceptions, as well as those whose work has been less visible in commercial and institutional venues. As CUE enters its 20th anniversary year, we celebrate the voices that have contributed to our work and public presence, and seek to uphold and critically engage with our mission in new and dynamic ways.
SPECIAL THANKS
CUE Teen Collective is an experiential learning program that goes beyond traditional arts education, introducing students to many varied topics that prepare them for careers in the arts. During the fall session, students meet with creative professionals working in the arts at cultural institutions, galleries, studios, auction houses, educational spaces, and other sites of artistic production. These experiences would not be possible without the generosity, grace, and expertise of our collaborators and guest speakers, which include peer organizations, artists, educators, creative producers, scholars, critics, and creative professionals.
We’d like to thank all those who made the 2022-23 CUE Teen Collective program possible, including: the Brooklyn Museum, Phillips, Elizabeth Foundation for the Arts, Mr. Ayobe, Joeonna Bellorado-Samuels, Carlos Martinez Dominguez, Rebecca Goyette, Shahira Hammad, Porcia Lewis, Charlie Liriano, Lydia Nobles, Dionis Ortiz, Shama Rahman, Noelle Saluan, Sinclair Spratley, Halima Taha, and Dr. John Tyson.
SUPPORT
Programmatic support for CUE Teen Collective is provided by ING Financial Services, the Milton and Sally Avery Arts Foundation, the William Talbott Hillman Foundation, the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs, and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature.
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All artwork © CUE Teen Collective students, 2023. Exhibition and artwork photography by Keenon Perry.