Rodrigo Valenzuela (artist)
Rodrigo Valenzuela (born 1982 in Santiago, Chile) is a Los Angeles-based artist working in photography, video, and installation. His work often explores themes of labor, immigration, and the representation of marginalized communities.
Valenzuela's practice frequently involves constructing sets and photographing them, creating staged environments that blur the lines between reality and fiction. These constructed realities serve as spaces to contemplate the socio-political and economic forces impacting immigrant experiences and working-class identities. He often employs architectural fragments and abstract forms in his sets, referencing urban landscapes and industrial environments.
Valenzuela received his BFA in Art from the University of Chile and his MFA in Photo/Media from the University of California, Santa Barbara. He has exhibited his work internationally in galleries and museums, and his art is included in several prominent collections. His work has garnered critical attention for its nuanced portrayal of labor, displacement, and the complex realities faced by immigrant populations. He is also a lecturer and educator, actively involved in teaching and mentoring emerging artists. Common themes within his practice include post-colonialism, the constructed nature of photographic truth, and the relationship between the built environment and individual identity.