Ep 73: Alberto Aguilar on Making Art from Everyday Life

Summary of the Episode:

In this episode of noseyAF: Conversations About Art, Activism, and Social Change, artist and host Stephanie Graham sits down with Alberto Aguilar, a multidisciplinary artist known for transforming everyday moments and interactions into meaningful creative expressions. The conversation explores how Aguilar weaves art into the rhythms of family, teaching, and community life. If you’ve ever wondered how to sustain creativity without compartmentalizing your life, this episode is for you.

This episode is a follow-up to Alberto’s first appearance in Episode 35, “I Was Wrong About Alberto Aguilar.”

Takeaways

• The conversation emphasizes the significance of engaging with everyday objects to derive meaning and foster communication.
• Alberto Aguilar’s exhibition, A Factual Account, explores the interplay between art, presence, and the narratives objects can evoke.
• The discussion reveals the creative process, highlighting how constraints can lead to innovative expressions in artistic practice.
• Aguilar shares insights on how personal experiences and family history influence his work, underscoring the connection between art and human experience.

Chapters

00:24 – A Conversation with Alberto Aguilar

01:40 – The Ladder Performance: A Journey of Collaboration and Creativity

16:05 – The Journey of an Artist

19:28 – The Complexity of Identity and Art

27:31 – The Art of Activation: Engaging with Objects and Space

36:51 – Exploring Aesthetic and Contextual Poetics

50:58 – Exploring Doubt and Certainty

53:20 – The Dream of a Grocery Store Art Space

Guest Bio

Alberto Aguilar is a Chicago-based artist who uses whatever materials are at hand to make meaningful connections with viewers. He does not distinguish his art practice from his other life roles, which allows him to make work wherever he is. He has shown and presented work in museums, galleries, storefronts, homes, and street corners around the world.

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Engage Projects – Alberto Aguilar

Last Time Alberto was on noseyAF: “I Was Wrong About Alberto Aguilar” – Episode 35

Eva Hesse – “Hang Up”

Nikki the Death Doula

Noteworthy Quotes from This Episode

“Limitations are not obstacles — they are the source material.”

“I’m not trying to make art about life. I’m trying to make life into art.”

“I think the best work comes from the moments you’re most present.”

Connect with Alberto Aguilar

Instagram: @albert0aguilar

Website: albertoaguilar.org

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Episode Credits

Produced, Hosted, and Edited by Me, Stephanie (teaching myself audio editing!)

On location recording: Ryan Harder

Lyrics: Queen Lex

Instrumental: Freddie Bam Fam