My personal development and professional training have led me to believe that playful attitudes help people cope, problem-solve and can offer emotional lightness. My jewelry pieces present familiar childhood imagery in efforts to drive forth the restorative nature of imaginative behavior. Gestural objects in vibrant colors materialize as graphic triggers that reconnect people with regenerative powers of playfulness. My approach encompasses a dual investigation of gestural drawing and traditional metalworking practices. I use inks and calligraphy brushes to make linear illustrations that are the base from which ideas are developed into refined pieces of adornment. The intent of this body of work is to infuse wardrobes and activate walls with whimsical pieces that bring levity to the forefront.
Laritza Garcia is a jewelry artist and educator living in Austin, Texas. Painting, illustration, and involvement with youth outreach are meaningful influences in the direction of her jewelry designs. She received her BFA from Texas State University and her MFA in Metal Design at East Carolina University. In 2011 and 2012 Laritza co-chaired Materials Topics, ECU's annual Metals Symposium. In 2015, she presented at the 36th annual Yuma Arts Symposium and participated as an invited exhibitor at the American Craft Council Show, St. Paul MN, a juried marketplace. Her jewelry is part of the permanent collection of Contemporary Art Jewelry at the Racine Art Museum and can be found in numerous private collections. In print, her jewelry can be found in 500 Necklaces by Lark Books, New Earrings: 500 Designs from Around the World and Metalsmith magazine. Laritza also maintains a busy visiting artist workshop schedule that has included, Pocosin Arts Center, MindPOP, Humboldt Metals and Creative Side Jewelry Academy. Currently she teaches at the School of Art and Design at Texas State University.
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Master of Fine Arts
East Carolina University 2012
Greenville, NC
Bachelor of Fine Arts 2008
Texas State University
San Marcos, TX
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Lecturer Texas State University 2013-Current
School of Art and Design
San Marcos, TX
Teaching Artist Dougherty Arts School 2013-Current
Austin, TX
Youth Arts Instructor Dougherty Arts School, Austin TX 2013
Carver Museum, Austin TX
Co-Chair Material Topics Metals Symposium 2011-2012
East Carolina University
Instructor of Record ECU School of Art & Design 2010-2012
Greenville. NC
Metals Studio Tech East Carolina University 2010-2012
Greenville, NC
Public Arts Instructor P.C.C.A. at Emerge 2010-2011
Greenville. NC
Youth Arts Counselor City of Decatur PARD 2009
Decatur, GA
Bronze Casting Assistant Beverly Penn 2008
San Marcos
Arts Outreach Instructor City of Austin PARD 2008-2006
Austin, TX
COURSES TAUGHT AT TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY
Advanced Metals Fall 2015
3D Design Foundation
Design Graphic
2D Design Foundations
Metals 1 Art Studio Summer 2015
3-D Design Art Foundations
Intro to Metal Design Art Studio Summer 2015
3-D Design Art Foundations Spring 2015
Fibers 1 Art Studio Fall 2014
3-D Design Art Foundations
Intro to Metal Design Art Studio Summer 2014
3-D Design Art Foundations
3-D Design Art Foundations Spring 2014
Metals 1 Art Studio Summer 2013
Metals II-V Advanced Art Studio
COURSES TAUGHT PRIOR TO TEXAS STATE EMPLOYMENT AT EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY
Mixed Media Art Studio Fall 2012
Design 2 Art Foundations Summer 2012
Design 1 Art Foundations Spring 2012
Design 2 Art Foundations Fall 2011
Intro Metal Design Art Studio Spring 2011
GRADUATE THESES COMMITTEE
Metals Thesis Advisor Angela Arteritano Summer, Fall 2014
Metals Thesis Advisor Breanna Batson Fall 2014
COURSES PREPARED AND CURRICULUM DEVELOPMENT
Advanced Metal Design ARTS 3345 Summer 2013
Advanced course explores the relationship of constructed 3-dimensional forms with their
2-dimensional surfaces. Historical precedents and contemporary examples of enameling
and mixed media design serve as points of departure for the conceptually based
assignments. Emphasis is placed on developing a personal conceptual direction in
conjunction with formal and technical problem solving.
WORKSHOPS
Powder Coat Pocosin Arts Center NC 2015
Drawing in Space MIND POP Austin TX
Powder Coat Metal Humboldt State University
Material Manipulation Arizona Western College
Exquisite Corpse Yuma Art Symposium
Emerging Teaching Artist Dougherty Arts Center
Fabrication and Surface Creative Side Jewelry Academy
Powder Coat for Jewelry Creative Side Jewelry Academy 2014
Powder Coat for Jewelry Metals Department, UT Austin 2013
INVITED TALKS, LECTURES, PRESENTATIONS
Outreach, Methods and Pedagogy, lecturer 2015
Humboldt State University, CA
Connecting Outreach and Methods, presenter
Yuma Art Symposium, AZ 2015
Thinking with your Hands, presenter
Western Arizona College
Artist Process, invited talk
Creative Side Jewelry Academy, Austin TX 2014
On Color, invited lecture
University of Texas at Austin, Metals Department 2013
EXHIBITION
Ghostprint Gallery Opening Showcase 2015
Earrings Galore
Heidi Lowe Gallery and Society of North American Goldsmiths
Traveling, DE, MA, Group, Curated-Heidi Lowe, National
American Craft Council Show
St. Paul RiverCentre, MN
Juried Market Place, Group, Invited-Lindsay Noble, National
New Acquisitions: Contemporary Art Jewelry
Racine Art Museum
Racine, WI, Group, Curated-Lina Vigna, National
Yuma Symposium Presenter Exhibition, Yuma, AZ
Yuma Art Center, Group, Curated- David Woodward, National
Texas State Faculty Exhibition, San Marcos, TX
Gallery I&II TSU, Group, Invitational-Mary Mikel Stump, Regional
Jewelry Edition, ECU Symposium, Greenville, NC
Group, Traveling Invitational-Kat Cole & Laura Wood, National
Laritza Garcia Curriculum Vitae 4
6th Annual Bracelet Show, Kathleen Sommers Gallery 2014
San Antonio, TX,
Group, Invitational-Kathleen Sommers, Regional
Jewelry Edition, Creative Side Jewelry Academy, Austin, TX
Group, Traveling Invitational-Kat Cole & Laura Wood, National
Jewelry Edition, Yuma Art Center, Yuma, AZ
Group, Traveling Invitational-Kat Cole & Laura Wood, National
Jewelry Edition, S.N.A.G. Conference, Minneapolis, MN
Group, Traveling Invitational-Kat Cole & Laura Wood, National
Jewelry Edition, Heidi Lowe Gallery, Rehoboth, DE
Group, Traveling Invitational-Kat Cole & Laura Wood, National
Corazon de Melon, Equinox Gallery, San Antonio, TX
Group, Invitational-Alejandro Sifuentes, Regional
Chroma, Jewelry in Color, College of The Albemarle Gallery, NC
Group, Invitational- Katheryn Osgood, Regional
Detritus, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Houston TX 2013
4 person, Curated by Ashley Powell, State
Due East, Big Medium: Austin TX,
Group, Invitational, East Austin Studio Tour, Regional
Variable Proximity, Austin International Airport
Austin TX, 4 person, Invitational- Liana Tomchesson, National
Bracelet Show, Equinox Gallery: San Antonio TX
Group, Invitational-Kathleen Sommers, Regional
Coated, The Studio: Brooklyn, NY
Group, Juried by Stephanie Voegele & Christina Rinaldi, National
Art Divas, Women and Their Work, Austin, TX
Solo, Invitational-Debe Bentley, Regional
Keep it in the Can, Equinox Gallery, San Antonio, TX
Group, Invitational-Laura Wood, Regional
Contemporary Art Month, La Villita, San Antonio, TX
Group, Invitational-Equinox Gallery, Regional
Formed by Desire, Gray Gallery, Greenville NC 2012
MFA Solo Exhibition
Laritza Garcia Curriculum Vitae 5
American Craft Today, The Bascom, Highlands NC
Group Show, Juror-Mark Leach, National
Greenville Museum of Art Exhibition, Greenville Museum of Art
Greenville NC, Group, Juror-Adam Cave, Regional
Screenplay, Mendenhall Center, Greenville NC
Group, Juror- Lanny Berger, Regional
Friends Exhibit, Caldwell Arts Center, Lenoir NC, Group Invitational
Curated- Jane Wells Harrison & Robert Ebendorf: Regional
Amalgamation, Graduate Artist Forum, Art Avenue, Greenville NC
Group, Curated- Laritza Garcia: Regional
Art of Influence, Gray Gallery, Greenville NC
Group, Invitational- Joshua Craig and Tina Lazzarine, National
SCHWA, Pitt County Council for the Arts at Emerge
Greenville, NC, Group, Juried, National
Heidi Lowe Multiples Exhibition, Rehoboth DE
Group, Juror-Heidi Lowe, National
Emerging Artist Showcase, Light Art + Design 2011
Chapel Hill, NC, Group, Invitational- Leigh Suggs, Regional
Arizona Intercollegiate Exhibition, Arizona State University
Phoenix AZ, National
Cupcake Jungle Collaborative with Josh Craig and Kyle Rees 2010
Mendenhall Center Greenville NC, Regional
ISE Cultural Foundation Exhibition, New York NY
Curated by ISE Foundation, International
Sojourn, Senior Thesis Exhibition 2008
Texas State University San Marcos TX
Surge, Society of North American Goldsmiths Student Exhibition
Juried by Kathleen Browne: Harlan Butt: Marilyn da Silva
Gallery S.P.A.C.E.: Savannah GA: National
COLLECTIONS, GALLERY REPRESENTATION
Racine Art Museum, Contemporary Jewelry Collection
The Gallery Store, Museum of Contemporary Craft Portland
Porter Price Collection
WORKS IN PRINT
Material Complexity 2014
Metalsmith Magazine Vol. 34 No. 1
by Michael Dale Bernard
Showcase 500 Art Necklaces 2013
Publisher Lark Books by Ray Hemachandra
New Earrings: 500+ Designs from around the World 2013
Publisher Thames & Hudson by Nicolas Estrada
Where to Buy
Work is not available for sale through the SNAG website. Please contact the artist directly to inquire about making a purchase.