Art of Black Miami Podcast with Marjaries Marmolejos

Untitled, airbrush on sheetmetal
By: Marjaries Marmolejos

Born in Dominican Republic, Marjaries Marmolejos has lived in the United States since he was eight years old. The hip hop influence in his work comes from growing up in the South Bronx as a child and loving hip hop culture. He considers his art a direct line to the minds of the working class, what he calls “the voice of the people.” Though Marmolejos received some traditional training at a young age, he has mostly taught himself by studying independently and observing the world around him.

Marmolejos thinks of his art as a form of cultural currency. He readily shifts gears, giving equal value and attention to custom painting a pair of Nikes, airbrushing a T-shirt, and creating a commercial mural. A professional artist for more than 10 years, he has worked in Wynwood, Allapattah, and Liberty City. His art is raw and highly calculated, figurative and abstract—his media ranging from oils on canvas to airbrush on car hoods, murals that wrap around buildings, and room-sized immersive installations. Marmolejos is devout and dedicated in his practice, motivated by his vision to express the love, fears, and challenges that everyday people experience in the world today.

Links: Marjaries Marmolejos, Liberty Square Artists in Residence Program, African Heritage Cultural Arts Center

@miacustom