Juan Hinojosa

Lives and works in New York, NY, USA

Artist statement

The debris of the American Dream lies at the heart of my studio practice. I transform discarded, ready-made objects into works on paper and sculpture, using materials like advertisements, pins, acrylic flowers, and articles of clothing. Scouring the streets for these cast-off souvenirs, I collect what society discards as both a record of what we’re fed and a reflection of what we’ve cannibalized. Through acts of collection and insertion, I trace a cycle of excess and desire that has become the rhythm of American life. My insatiable appetite for American pop culture and the extravagant fantasy world portrayed by Hollywood has led me to amass a studio filled with brightly colored, shiny objects. Each ready-made item carries its own memory and texture, some items were once mine, while others belong to strangers. Through my work, I challenge the myths of obsessive consumption, greed, and the American Dream we were once promised. As a gay man living in New York, navigating a life steeped in pop culture, vivid colors, and a fantasy world where everything ends happily isn’t always easy. Perhaps this conditioning began in my grandmother’s living room, watching sitcoms, soap operas, and telenovelas. Or maybe it’s a response to the harsher realities that surround me today, where escapism feels like the only option. Just as I collect ready-mades, I gather memories of a bygone America, fragments of moments lost in time, with each piece acting as a personal time capsule.

Artwork