The show's titular orchid in Bony Ramirez's exhibition at the Newark Museum of Art symbolizes the Western tourism industry's image of the Dominican Republic and his personal connection to a painting by Martin Johnson Heade.
Ramirez's journey from the Dominican Republic to the US included initial fears and financial barriers that prevented him from exploring his interest in fine art, leading him to work in construction while pursuing painting on the side.
Ramirez's art captures his struggles as a queer man navigating the hypermasculine construction industry, with his paintings reflecting themes of identity and personal experiences from his Dominican heritage.
Collection
[
|
...
]