Visual Artist, Alicia Vasquez’s artworks introduce the natural world through patterns, color, and the many other naturalistic elements such as botanicals, animals, and human figures. Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, she received her bachelor’s degree in illustration from the Cleveland Institute of Art. Growing up from a very diverse multicultural background, A lot of her artwork themes portray those inspirations of unity and togetherness alongside her love for nature, and spiritual journey as an artist. Alicia now works full time as a public artist/ muralist and as a professional tattoo artist. She lives in Ohio but also enjoys traveling to work residencies as a tattoo artist.
Alicia has always had a love for experimenting with different mediums, but her favorites include ink, pencil, and wood. Her favorite styles to illustrate include fun textured patterns and nature, from mandalas to art nouveau inspired ornamental works.
Recently she has displayed mural works such as “Heart of Gold” at Metro Health hospital, as well “Lions Roar”, a temporary mural installation that was installed at downtown public square behind Rebol café.
In her free time, Alicia enjoys going for hikes and trail runs, she also enjoys traveling, nature documentaries, bookstores, yoga and Zen, gardens, herbal teas and fruit smoothies, and calm walks on the beach.
Education
The Cleveland Institute of Art 2007-2011
Bachelor of Arts B.F.A. Illustration
Grants/Awards
Mar 2021 Julia de Burgos Arts Center/ Unidos por el Arte artist residency grant
June 2020 Puerto Rican Museum of Art artist’s grant
May 2020 SPACES Gallery Cuyahoga artists Satellite Fund grant
Oct 2019 Kaman’s Art Shoppes Elite Artist (Top sales in nation)
Jul 2018 Kaman’s Art Shoppes Elite Artist (Top sales in nation)
April 2017 McKinney Performing Arts Center National Award -top 6 finalist large scale work prize
2007-2011 Albert K. Murray Fine Arts Scholarship Award
2007-2011 Cleveland Institute of Art Portfolio Prize Scholarship
2011 Susan Lipmann Illustration Department Scholarship
April 2010 University Hospitals Heart and Vascular Institute art prize
Mar 2009 The Cleveland Clinic Expressions arts and sciences integration program 2 blue ribbons and best in show art prize
Exhibitions/Showings
Dec 2022 Holiday Art Exhibit, FIG Arts Gallery Center, Pivot Arts Center, Cleveland, OH
Mar 2022 Women in Print Exhibit, FIG Arts Gallery Center, Pivot Arts Center, Cleveland, OH
Jul 2022 Beautiful American Princess, SheArt Exhibit Art Show, Deep Roots Experience, Deep Roots Gallery, Cleveland, OH
Aug 2021 Black Medusa Warrior, Skateboard Art Show, Deep Roots Experience, Red Lion Tattoos, Cleveland, OH
April 2021 Kicks, Spliffs, Flicks Art Show, Deep Roots Experience, Red Lion Tattoos, Cleveland, OH
April 2021 Signs of Times Exhibit, Metrohealth, L.A.N.D Studios, Cleveland, OH
Sept 2020 Hispanic Heritage Month Exhibit, Julia de Burgos Arts Center House Gallery, Cleveland, OH
Sept 2020 Art at a Distance Drive by Exhibit, Lincoln West High School, Cleveland, OH
Aug 2019 Puerto Rican Cultural Festival, Roberto Clemente Park, Cleveland, OH
July 2019 Latin Arts and Culture Festival Exhibit, Cleveland, Cleveland, OH
April 2017 Arts in Bloom Exhibit, McKinney Performing Arts Center, McKinney, TX
Mar 2017 Birds, Cats, Skulls Exhibit, Kettle Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
Feb 2017 For the Love of Artists Exhibit, Kettle Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
Jun 2016 Holistic Festival of Life, Plano Civic Center, Plano, TX
Mar 2015 Dallas Public Library Annual Arts Exhibit, Dallas Public Library, Dallas, TX
April 2015 Arts in Bloom Exhibit, McKinney Performing Arts Center, McKinney, TX
May 2015 Pancakes and Booze Art show, Quixotic World, Dallas, TX
Dec 2015 Dallas Raw Artists, Holiday Rawk art exhibit, Gas Monkey Live, Dallas Texas
Collections (Public, Corporate, Private)
Dec 2022 Together We Shine Mural, Playhouse Square, Cleveland, OH
June 2021 Stars of the Universe, Julia de Burgos Cultural Arts Center private collection, Cleveland, OH
June 2020 Black, Brown, and Red Artist collaborative mural, Julia de Burgos Arts Center private collection, Cleveland, OH
June 2016 2 Corinthians 4:15, Watermark Community Church youth center private collection, Dallas, TX
April 2010 Renacer, University Hospitals Heart and Vascular Institute private collection, Cleveland, Ohio
Mar 2009 Desolation, The Cleveland Clinic private collection, Cleveland, Ohio
Publications and Website Publications
Dec 2022 Freshwater Cleveland, Together We Shine Mural feature, https://www.freshwatercleveland.com/street-level/PlayhouseSquareMural011123.aspx?fbclid=IwAR1qGIe4QrQwEKlKd2T8IogN5gbFSlC6kTdD04afHD3bQ877FPbHkFoPqwI&mibextid=Zxz2cZ
Dec 2022 Wkyc channel 3, Together We Shine Mural feature, https://www.wkyc.com/article/entertainment/places/first-look/mural-more-than-100-feet-long-commemorates-playhouse-square-100th-anniversary-exclusive-first-look-alicia-vasquez-nathalie-bermudez/95-84b1aebf-00bc-4bef-a1e9-f7711fae0e81
April 2021 Shaker Life Magazine Spring 2021 Issue, Sunflowers and Mandalas Utility Box Design feature
April 2021 Shaker Arts Council, Sunflowers and Mandalas Utility Box Design website feature, https://www.shakerartscouncil.org/norwood-chagrin.html
Oct 2020 CAN Journal Fall 2020 Issue, Artists Spotlight Interview, http://canjournal.org/2021/08/creative-fusion-metrohealth-signs-of-the-times/
Related and Teaching Experience
Related Experience
June 2021-present Tattoo Artist, Distinctive Tattoo Studios, Willoughby Hills, OH
Nov 2022 Illustration Juror, Scholastics Art and Writing Awards, Alliance for Young Artists and Writers, New York, NY
2017-2020 Graphic Designer, The Creative Group; Robert Half, Cleveland, OH
2017-2020 Sr. Supervisor / Lead face painting artist, Kaman’s Art Shoppes, Akron, OH
2014-2017 Caricature Artist, Kaman’s Art Shoppes, Dallas, TX
Teaching Experience
2022 Continuing Education Art Teacher. Cleveland Institute of Art. Cleveland, OH
2019-2020 Substitute Art Teacher. Shaker Heights District, Shaker Heights, OH
2019-2019 Art Coordinator. Achievement Centers for Children, Strongsville, OH
2018-2019 Teaching Artist. Shaker Heights Recreation Department, Shaker Heights, OH
2016-2018 Grumbacher Art Instructor. Michaels Craft Store, Plano, TX- Shaker Heights, OH
2017-2017 Art Instructor. One River School of Art and Design, Frisco, TX
2015-2016 Assistant Art Teacher, McKinney ISD, McKinney, TX
Gallery Affiliation(s)
Deeproots Gallery, Cleveland, OH
FIG/ Future Ink Graphics Gallery, Cleveland, OH
Julia de Burgos Arts Center House Gallery, Cleveland, OH
Elevate! Gallery, Dallas, TX
Kettle Art Gallery, Dallas, TX
ArtLoveMagic, Dallas, TX
Art House of McKinney, McKinney, TX
Murals/Public Art projects
Dec 2022 Three Kings Day Poster Illustration Project, F.I.G, Future Ink Graphics, Cleveland, OH
Dec 2022 Together We Shine Mural, Playhouse Square, Cleveland, OH
Nov 2022 Hispanic Heritage Month Poster Illustration, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, F.I.G, Cleveland, OH
Oct 2022 MetroWest Community Pole Banners, Metro Health, MetroWest, L.A.N.D studios, Cleveland, OH
Sep 2022 Heart of Gold Mural, Metro Health Hospital, MetroWest, L.A.N.D studios, Cleveland, OH
Aug 2022 Sun and Moon Utility Box, Shaker Heights Arts Council, Shaker Heights, OH
June 2022 Community Utopia Mural -Scranton Castle Center, Metro Health L.A.N.D studios, Cleveland, OH
Feb 2022 Lady in Green mural, Metrowest org, Cleveland, OH
Nov 2021-Feb 2022 Hear Me Roar Public Town Square Mural, L.A.N.D Studios, Cleveland, OH
Aug 2021 Things that Fly Utility Box, Shaker Heights Arts Council, Shaker Heights, OH
Oct 2020 Sunflowers and Mandalas Utility Box, Shaker Heights Arts Council, Shaker Heights, OH
Sept 2020 Black and Brown in Red Mural, Julia De Burgo Arts Center, Cleveland, OH
Sept 2020 Lost In Space Mural, MetroWest Community Development Org, Cleveland, OH
Nov 2018 Sincerity Hands Mural, Secure Lending Inc, Cleveland, OH
Oct 2016 Murals of Colombia, Mi Pueblito Colombiano Restaurant, Garland, TX
Nov 2014 Beautiful Dreams Campaign, Imme org, Dallas, TX