Invited artist:Eric Fuertes 
 

This work explores identity, vulnerability, and the burden of societal expectations through the lens of classical iconography and contemporary materiality. By overlaying the iconic forms of Michelangelo’s David and the Venus de Milo on a disk-like structure reminiscent of a record, I aim to evoke the cyclical and often discordant interplay between strength and fragility, silence and expression, tradition and transformation.

These archetypes within the coin-like form gestures towards the duality of existence, where competing narratives of gender and selfhood are held in tension. The coin, a symbol of value and exchange, also evokes a metaphorical weight—the cost of truth and the toll of its concealment.

3D printing, with its capacity to render precise yet imperfect layers, mirrors the process of constructing identity in a world of shifting paradigms. The record as a visual reference carries an auditory implication: the suggestion of voices unheard or stories unspoken, looping silently within the circular grooves have been altered and abstracted through vertical layers that visualize the embedded whispers and stories that are unable to be told. A distortion from the practicality of a record player.

This piece invites viewers to reflect on the hidden dimensions of human experience, particularly those tied to identity and trauma, and to question the constructs that define our understanding of self and other. It is a meditation on the quiet spaces between confession and concealment, where the possibility of resonance and recognition lies.

 

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Eric Fuertes is a tireless advocate for making art accessible to everyone. Born and raised in South Texas, Eric is a proud first-generation college graduate who sharpened his sculptural skills at Texas A&M–Corpus Christi and delved into the world of foundry work at Houston's Keen Foundry.

After earning his undergraduate degree, Eric headed north to pursue an MFA in Sculpture at Northern Illinois University. He went on to spend nearly a decade at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he honed his craft, expanded his technical expertise, and mentored countless emerging artists.

Now, as a tenure-track faculty member in the Art Department at the College of DuPage, Eric brings his boundless energy to the classroom, inspiring students to experiment, innovate, and challenge themselves. A champion for underrepresented voices and a bridge-builder between digital and traditional art-making, Eric’s work continues to explore the intersections of technology, materiality, and the human spirit.