Hugo Moro
In the Current
Hugo Moro's upcycled furniture and found object constructions trace energies of intimacy, advocacy, and spirituality.
- April 6 - 27, 2023
- Opening: Thursday, April 6, 6:00 — 8:00pm
Confronted with deprivations in rural Cuba during childhood, Moro learned to create playthings from discards and weave together their origin stories. In his contemporary practice, he embellishes these narratives and connects them with impressions of his own relational dynamics.
In the Current showcases suspended, wall-mounted, and freestanding compositions made from parts and pieces of reclaimed furniture. Arms, legs, backs, and ears, all anthropomorphic in nature, are fastened into pairs and groups to embody deeply personal as well as universal truths about our interactions with one another and the environments we inhabit. Moro intuitively recognizes and elevates the energies unique to each object he touches, drawing viewers into his drama while inviting them to conjure their own.
About the Artist
Born in Havana, Cuba, Hugo Moro was influenced by the socio-political shocks of the Cuban Revolution–including the assassination of his pro-Castro maternal grandfather and his mother’s disillusionment with the ensuing regime. Moro immigrated to New York City in 1966 at the age of twelve. He went on to attend the High School of Art and Design, Pratt Institute, and the Fashion Institute of Technology and, from 1987 until 1999, held various art director positions in advertising and publishing. Moro later relocated to Miami, Florida and returned to school at Florida International University where he completed his MFA, traveling to Cuba for the first time in 30 years to research his thesis. Since then, some of his career highlights include participation in the IX Havana Biennial and the First Ghetto Biennial in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. In 2014, Moro and his Bellingham-native husband relocated to Seattle and now reside in Tacoma.