Art With an Accent - The Marisol Experiment
In collaboration with Wendy Madrigal
Curated by Lorena Diaz
Presented at Floating World Gallery

The Marisol Experiment is a multidisciplinary installation project inspired by the work and legacy of Venezuelan-American artist Marisol Escobar, often hailed as the "mother of Pop Art." Developed in collaboration with artist Wendy Madrigal and curated by Lorena Diaz, the exhibition reimagines Marisol’s bold visual language—her use of geometric forms, portraiture, and assemblage—through a contemporary lens grounded in Chicago’s vibrant theater and art communities.

Commissioned by Teatro Vista, the series features sculptural portraits of prominent Latinx cultural institutions and artists, including Vision Latino, Mike Oquendo, UrbanTheater Company, Tarikuri Theatre, The Water People, and others. The works draw on Marisol’s distinctive use of elongated rectangular shapes and furniture-like structures, combining materials such as mirrors, pins, speakers, and urban traffic motifs to create immersive, multi-sensory portraits that reflect the energy and individuality of each subject.

Accompanying the exhibition were interactive events, including a dinner inspired by Marisol’s favorite Venezuelan dishes and live performances that welcomed audiences into the world she inhabited—blending sculpture, storytelling, and communal experience.

The Marisol Experiment was featured on WGN Chicago during Hispanic Heritage Month, in a special segment with journalist Lourdes Duarte, spotlighting the project’s commitment to honoring Latin American creative legacies while celebrating the thriving contributions of local artists and institutions.

This project not only pays tribute to Marisol Escobar’s influential aesthetic but also asserts her place in the living, evolving story of Latinx art