Never Let The Lyric Get In
The Way Of The Groove
by Marlene Tafoya
Exhibition Statement
With the agency to re-imagine the current plight of power and presence in art spaces, NEVER LET THE LYRIC GET IN THE WAY OF THE GROOVE stands as an interdisciplinary intervention. Comprised of entirely new work made during her tenure at UNM, the show is a marker of many shifts within Marlene’s art practice. By leveraging her skills as a licensed manicurist and weaving in personal narratives, Marlene playfully deconstructs and reconstructs place-based objects that resonate within her domestic and public spheres. This fusion is an interaction and exchange, producing a whirlwind of humor, abundance, and bold proclamations.
With the agency to re-imagine the current plight of power and presence in art spaces, NEVER LET THE LYRIC GET IN THE WAY OF THE GROOVE stands as an interdisciplinary intervention. Comprised of entirely new work made during her tenure at UNM, the show is a marker of many shifts within Marlene’s art practice. By leveraging her skills as a licensed manicurist and weaving in personal narratives, Marlene playfully deconstructs and reconstructs place-based objects that resonate within her domestic and public spheres. This fusion is an interaction and exchange, producing a whirlwind of humor, abundance, and bold proclamations.
Image by Nicholas Valdés
Marlene Tafoya is an Xicana Indigenous artist, performer, and manicurist from the Los Angeles Harbor Area. Breaking the traditional barriers of presenting artwork, Marlene enjoys intervention through interaction and exchange. Inspired by the modern manicure and classic car scene, her sculptures are both miniature and large in scale. Questioning the various roles in art spaces, she creates a time for play and the pressure to cross the line(s).
Over the years, Tafoya has exhibited her work at several locations including Site Santa Fe Sf NM, Museum of Latin American Art, Lb CA, Honor Fraser, La CA, Harwood Art Center, Abq NM, Vincent Price Art Museum, La CA, and LAXART, Hlwd CA. Additionally, she co-curated art shows including Language, Art For Leonard Peltier and Safe Space LA, an alternative art space hosted by Slanguage Studio. Instagram: @nailartarchiving | Website: marlenetafoya.com
