CV

EDUCATION

2012 MFA in Visual Arts & Photography, Miami International University of Art & Design, Miami, FL.

2010 Post-Baccalaureate BFA Visual Arts – Photography (15 credits) – Miami International University of Art & Design, Miami, FL.

2009 BA Graphic Arts, Cum Laude, University of Puerto Rico, Carolina, PR

FELLOWSHIPS & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS

2022-23

2019

  • Fábricas Culturales: Entrepreneurial development program for creative industries. Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña in partnership with Inversión Cultural, Hato Rey, PR

2018

GRANTS, AWARDS & RECOGNITION

2020

2019

  • 2019 Grantee- Flamboyán Artist Fellowship Award– Flamboyán Foundation, Washington, DC
  • Grantee – 2019 Puerto Rico Artist Grant – National Association of Latino Arts and Cultures (NALAC)

2017

  • Honorable Mention –  La Casa de la Cultura Enrique Ramírez y Ramírez – Mexico City

2011

  • Mention, Nude Category –  Black & White Spider Awards (Online)

2008

  • 1st place, Best Photograph – Black & White Category –  Premios Jaguar, UPR, Carolina

2006

  • 3rd place Best Photograph – Black & White Category –  Premios Jaguar, UPR, Carolina

ORGANIZATIONS

PRISMA Art Projects – Founder

  • Artist-run non-profit organization established in 2015. Focused on supporting emerging artists through exhibition & portfolio development.

24hourproject – Ambassador for Puerto Rico

  • Connect emerging photographers, aspiring photojournalist and visual storytellers from Puerto Rico to join an international community in document humanity.
  • Organize and coordinate event.
  • Organize and curate exhibition after the day of the event.

    GRANT REVIEWER

    NEA – National Endowment of the Arts – Grants for Arts Projects: Arts Education

    NALAC – National Association of Latino Arts & Cultures – Puerto Rico Artist Grant

    PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

    2021 Curating exhibitions for Museums, Instituto Mexicano de Curaduría y Restauración, México.

    2019 Curatorial Studies, NODE Center for Curatorial Studies, Berlin.

    2007 Professional Digital Photography, Eduardo Photography Studio, Bayamon, PR.

    SOLO EXHIBITIONS

    2022

    2021

    2018

    2017

    • Shifted Realities – Sala de Exhibiciones en Antigua Casa Alcaldía – Carolina, PR

    2012

    • MFA Exhibition: Shifted Realities – The Lunch Box Gallery – Wynwood, Miami, FL
    • MFA Presentation: Shifted Realities – Miami Intl. University of Art & Design Student Gallery– Miami, FL
    • Shifted Realities – The Hangar Gallery – Wynwood, Miami, FL

    2011

    • One Night Stand Exhibitions Series – The Lunch Box Gallery – Wynwood, Miami, FL
    • ArteAméricas The Latin American Art Fair – Miami Beach Convention Center – Miami, FL

    2008

    • Arte Vivo – Centro de Bellas Artes de Caguas – Caguas, PR

    GROUP EXHIBITIONS

    2022

    • Resolución 2020 – Museo de Arte de Caribbean University (MACU) – Bayamón, PR

    2021

    • Photographers for Social Change – erstereihe.hamburg in collaboration with 24hourproject – Hamburg, Germany
    • Resolución 2020 – Museo Casa Escuté – Carolina, PR

    2019

    • The Repeating Island – Colectivo Presencia – Art Basel 2019 – Kendall Art Center, Miami, FL
    • Herencias del Arte Caribeño Contemporáneo – 6to Congreso Internacional de Artistas Visuales – Facultad de Artes de la Universidad Autónoma de Santo Domingo – República Dominicana
    • Camaradas – Instituto de Subcultura – Santurce, PR

    2018

    • El Caribe en Puerto Rico – Museo de Arte de Caribbean University (MACU) – Bayamón, PR
    • Album Covers Art Show: part B – La Central – Isabela, PR
    • Album Covers Art Show: part A – El Local – Santurce, PR
    • Bienal SalaFAR 2018 – Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico – Santurce, PR
    • María a través de mi lente: Exhibición Fotográfica – Mercado Libre – Santurce, PR
    • Catarsis: Re/construyendo después de María – Museo de las Américas – San Juan PR

    2017

    • Feromonas – CIELO – Santurce, PR
    • Mi Barrio – Casa de Cultura Ramírez y Ramírez – Ciudad de México, México

    2016

    • Summer Love Art Exhibition – Mercado Libre – San Juan, PR

    2015

    • LUZ An Exploration of Illumination – Galería Casa Jefferson – San Juan, PR
    • Perspectivas de Mujer – Galería Epifanio Irizarry – Esc. Especializada de Bellas Artes – Ponce, PR
    • TRE-ART-SURES – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • Untitled – Portofino 400 – South Beach, FL

    2014

    • Miami Mixer – Eleazar Delgado Studio –- Miami, FL
    • Square Art Show – Bear & Bird Boutique Gallery – Lauderhill, FL

    2013

    • The Wall – MANO Fine Art – Bird Road Arts District – Miami, FL
    • Muestra Nacional de Artes Plásticas – Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña – Antiguo Arsenal de la Marina – San Juan, PR
    • Cardboard Art – Irreversible Magazine Intl. Art Project – Brisky Gallery – Wynwood, Miami, FL
    • Cardboard Art – Irreversible Magazine Intl. Art Project – SeaFair – Bayfront Park, Miami, FL

    2012

    • Miami Independent Thinkers 4th Edition Art Basel Fair – The Armory Studios – Wynwood, Miami, FL
    • Faculty Exhibition – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • Bienal de Fotografía de Puerto Rico – Museo de Arte de las Américas – San Juan, PR
    • Imbued – The Artisan Lounge – Miami, FL
    • My City – The Artisan Lounge – Miami, FL

    2011

    • NY vs. Miami – Art Basel Miami – The Hangar – Wynwood, Miami, FL
    • Art Walk November – The Hangar – Wynwood, Miami, FL
    • Insight – Arevalo Gallery – Design District, Miami, FL
    • Houston Fine Art Fair – Arevalo Gallery – Houston, TX
    • Art over the bridge – Café Society Group – Pompano Beach, FL
    • PINTA The Modern & Contemporary Latin American Art Show – Arevalo Gallery – London, UK
    • Bubbling up – SOHO Studios – Wynwood, Miami, FL

    2010

    • SOLO Art Fair – Doubletree Hotel – Miami, FL
    • Student Show – Miami Intl. University of Art & Design – Miami, FL

    2009

    • Experimento Fotográfico – Casa Aboy – San Juan, PR
    • Retomando noches de galerías –  Nuyorican’s Café – San Juan, PR
    • Arte Erótico – La Respuesta – Santurce, PR

    COLLECTIONS

    • Francisco Arévalo Gallery – Miami, FL
    • Vargas Gallery at Vargas University, Pembroke Pines, FL
    • Private Collection, San Juan, PR
    • Private Collection, Miami, FL
    • Private Collection, Chicago, IL 

    CURATORIAL PRACTICE 

    2020

    • HILO: Textil en el arte contemporáneo – Galería de Arte del Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez – Mayagüez, PR

    2019

    2016

    • Eminencia: Homenaje a Abelardo Díaz Alfaro – Casa de Cultura Ruth Hernández – Río Piedras, PR

    2015

    • LUZ: An Exploration of Illumination – Galería Casa Jefferson – San Juan, PR
    • ExplorArt: Puerto Rico – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • “dis·so·ci·a·tion” MFA Exhibition by Eduardo Meléndez – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL

    2014

    • Beautifully Dark: A Requiem, Solo Show by Pam Reagan – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • 2014 Photography Biennale – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • IRAN Contemporary – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • 2014 South Florida Group Show – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • “Interplay” MFA Exhibition by Donna Harvey – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • Wes Carson: The Miami Project – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • “Puerto Rico: The view of colonialism through the eye of the colonized” MFA Exhibition by Alejandra Leon Pineda – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • 2014 Teaching Artists Exhibition – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL

    2013

    • Allegory: Beyond depictions, banalities & cultural statements – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • “The mood behind memory based painting charged” MFA Exhibition by Kseniya Mashyanova – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • Pembroke Pines Art Guild Exhibition – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • 2013 South Florida Group Show – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • Virginia Erdie Solo Exhibition – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • “Live Cinema” MFA Exhibition by Jonathan DeCamps – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • “The Bird & Bee Show” MFA Exhibition by Brittany Smith – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • 2013 High School Students Exhibition – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL
    • 2013 Faculty Exhibition – Vargas Gallery – Pembroke Pines, FL

    ARTIST TALKS / LECTURES / WORKSHOPS

    2022

    • “Documentación y fotografía de Archivos” – Workshop & presentation about photography as a historical document and digitization techniques – Asociación de Documentalistas de Puerto Rico – Adjuntas & Maricao, PR

    2020

    • Curator Talk: Discussions about HILO and textile art research as part of the opening of EJE Textil with Quintin Rivera Toro – Museo del Reciclaje – Hatillo, PR
    • “Artist Talk & Workshop” – Photography artist talk and hands-on workshop on documentary photography – Cochise College, Arizona, USA
    • Curator Talk, as part of HILO: Textil en el arte contemporáneo, Recinto Universitario de Mayaguez, PR

    2019

    • About Puerto Rico’s first participation in the 24hourproject – Ambassador talk – El Cuadrado Gris, Santurce, PR

    2018

    • “An exploration of architecture” – Artist Talk & Workshop as part of Bienal SalaFAR Exhibition – Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, Santurce, PR
    • “Architecture photography” – Artist Talk & Workshop – Fundación Angel Ramos, Hato Rey, PR

    2013

    • “Photography in daily life” – Vargas University – Pembroke Pines, FL

    PRESS & PUBLICATIONS

    2022

    2021

    2020

    2019

    2018

    2017

    2016

    • Radio Oro – Radio program interview: “Fotomaratón f/100×35“

    2015

    2012

    • El Dialogo Online – Interview: “Bienal Internacional de Fotografía”, September 7, Online, PR
    • El Vocero – Article: “Bienal de Fotografía”, September 4, Online, PR
    • El Nuevo Día – Article: “Bienal de Fotografía”, September 5, Printed, PR
    • Revista Cruce – Article: “La bienal se transforma”, September, Online, PR

    2010

    • “Shifted Realities” by Annie Y. Saldaña – Self published book

    CERTIFICATES

    2006

    • Black & White Photography Seminar, Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña, Museo Casa Jesús T. Piñero, Canóvanas, PR

    2008

    • Batik in Contemporary Art, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, PR
    • Introduction to Macramé, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Río Piedras, PR

    RELATED PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

    Project Coordinator and Teaching Artist at Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, Santurce, PR
    January 2016 – present
    ▸ Project Coordinator for educational programs: Art, Science and Technology, after-school program for
    high school students, Integrating Visual Arts to the Special Education Curriculum, teachers 5-day seminar, and Art & Technology, art program for high school dropouts. Involved in the coordination and supervision of the projects in their entirety: grant writing and documentation, administration and management of programs budget, identify local teaching artists and arts professionals for workshops, design program calendar, coordinate all details for final exhibitions for the programs, develop written progress reports and final financial reports for donors, manage all emails and communications between museum and donors, identify new grant opportunities. Projects have been funded by: Banco Popular Foundation, VSA Education.

    Digitization specialist at Instituto de Cultura Puertorriqueña/Archivo General de Puerto Rico, Santurce, PR
    March 2021 – June 2022
    ▸ Operator & photographer in charge of digitizing historical materials such as: photographic negatives,
    books, printed photographs, and other loose material. Developed workflows and standards for the
    institution. Basic knowledge of the DT Cultural Heritage systems and Capture One software.
    ▸Certificates: DT 101: Introduction to Digitization & DT 201: Operator Training

    Adjunct Faculty at University of Puerto Rico, Carolina Campus, Carolina, PR
    August 2016 – May 2021
    ▸ Instructor in the Commercial Advertising Program & Humanities Program offering courses such as:
    Illustrative Advertising Photography, Editorial & Corporate Photography & Art Appreciation

    Adjunct Faculty (Distance Learning) at Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico, Aguadilla Campus
    August 2020-December 2020
    ▸ Offer courses: Digital Photography applied to Graphic Design, Corporate Design & Visual Identity and
    Advertising Campaign Seminar in the Graphic Design Bachelors Program.

    Adjunct Faculty (In-person & Distance Learning) at Ana G. Méndez University, Carolina Campus, Carolina, PR
    October 2015-December 2020
    ▸ Sistema Ana G. Méndez Distance Learning Certification
    ▸ Offer courses: Digital Photography, Photoshop, Art and Music Appreciation, Introduction to Multimedia & Multimedia Portfolio Development in the Graphic Design Program.

    Gallery administrator & exhibitions curator at Vargas Gallery, Pembroke Pines, FL
    August 2012-Feb 2015
    ▸ Developed gallery mission & vision statements and procedures manual. Responsible for all administrative duties such as writing emails, contacting artists and possible collaborators, liaison between University & gallery. In charge of exhibition development, which required artist research, writing press release and texts for publications, curating exhibitions, arranging transportation of local & international works of art, organizing installation schedules, exhibition mounting, public relations, social media and marketing. An artist database was developed to register and catalogue the gallery collection. Involved in curating & coordinating nineteen exhibitions.

    Adjunct faculty at Jose Maria Vargas University, Pembroke Pines, FL
    January 2013-February 2015
    ▸ Offered the courses Photography for Graphic Designers I & II for the Graphic Design Department and
    Children’s Art for the Preschool Education Department.

    Photography lab technician at Miami Intl. University of Art & Design, Miami, FL
    January 2010- June 2010
    ▸ In charge, with fellow work-study classmates, of accurately quantifying chemicals and preparing
    solutions for the photography darkroom, maintenance of equipment, conduct chemical and material inventory, assist students with their printing needs and perform daily laboratory clean up.

    Gallery assistant and Educator at Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico, Santurce, PR
    June 2008- January 2009
    ▸ Assisting gallery visitors and providing information on displayed works of art, gallery maintenance,
    coordinating story-telling time and art workshops for children, assist in developing community events.

    Contact Info

    Email: asaldanaphotography@gmail.com

    Cell: 787-639-9604