News & Events
SITAR ARTS CENTER’S CAFRITZ GALLERY TO PRESENT SERIES BY AWARD-WINNING ARTIST HÉCTOR RAFAEL
WASHINGTON, September 26, 2024 – Sitar Arts Center announced today an upcoming exhibition by award-winning artist Héctor Rafael. On view in Sitar’s Cafritz Gallery from September 26 through November 1, 2024, Sitar will host Héctor as he brings his work from Puerto Rico for his first solo exhibition in Washington, DC. “Introspective” features 15 works of art, ranging from graphite drawings to oil paintings. The opening reception, open to the public, will take place on Thursday, October 3, 2024, at 7:00 pm.
Since 2000, Sitar Arts Center has been offering high-quality and accessible arts education to children, teens, and young adults from every Ward of Washington, DC. Fostering a creative community of learning and belonging, Sitar Arts Center removes financial and cultural barriers to arts education and career training and envisions a city in which all young people are supported on their path to achieving their full potential.
Throughout its nearly 25-year history, Sitar has hosted exhibitions dedicated to educating the community about the visual arts from both the artist’s and viewer’s perspectives. Over the past two years, Sitar has expanded its gallery series, discovering and highlighting the work of new and established local, national, and international artists. The non-profit proudly presents “Introspective” and its 2024-2025 gallery series with the support of the Corcoran Women’s Committee.
“Introspective” showcases Héctor’s latest body of work, exploring mental health and the human psyche. The exhibition presents Caribbean Queer Neo-Surrealism, blending queer perspectives with contemporary surrealist techniques. Viewers will find themselves immersed in the intricate details and imagery that challenge perceptions of male forms.
Héctor earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from Syracuse University and a Master of Art Education from Universidad Ana G. Méndez in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Known for his rich use of color, his work has been exhibited across Puerto Rico, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Boston, Istanbul, London, Barcelona, Santo Domingo, Lisbon, Florence, Mantua, and Venice. “Introspective” represents his healing journey following the devastation of Hurricane María, the COVID pandemic, and the loss of close friends to fatal diseases.
Héctor has exhibited extensively in prestigious galleries and museums worldwide, including the Museo de Arte de Caguas in Puerto Rico, The Line Contemporary Art Space in London, and the Palazzo Ca’ Zanardi in Venice. Notable recent exhibitions include “Diálogos” at Pamil Fine Art, San Juan (2024), and “En la Otra Orilla” at MUAC, Caguas (2023). The artist has also participated in major biennials such as the 2019 Mantova Biennale in Italy and has been recognized with numerous awards, including the 2023 International Prize Michelangelo in Rome and the 2023 International Prize Leonardo da Vinci in Milan.
“Bringing Héctor Rafael’s work to our community is a significant moment for Sitar Arts Center, especially as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. His powerful exploration of mental health and identity resonates deeply with our mission to provide a safe, creative space for our students and community to express themselves and engage with the world around them. We are honored to showcase an artist whose work not only reflects personal healing but also encourages critical conversations that are so needed today,” said Maureen Dwyer, executive director of Sitar Arts Center.
When asked about his series, Héctor explained, “The exhibition is a series of self-portraits that invites viewers to reflect on anxiety, depression, body image, and self-acceptance. While the starting point of the series is deeply personal, it touches on experiences that are universally relatable.” He hopes these works will open the door to tough conversations. “I aim to open a dialogue about mental health and the complexities of self-perception, encouraging others to confront and embrace their own struggles.”
Héctor will be present at the opening reception on October 3, 2024, at Sitar Arts Center’s Cafritz Gallery. All artworks will be for sale and available for pickup or delivery by mid-November. The gallery is located at 1700 Kalorama Road NW, Suite 101, Washington, DC., and is open Monday through Friday, noon – 6:00 p.m., and Saturdays 10:00 a.m. – noon.
For more information, visit Sitar Arts Center’s website at www.sitarartscenter.org.
Gallery Contact
Gisselle Cardona
Gallery Curator
gisselle@sitarartscenter.org
202.797.2145 x120
About Sitar Arts Center
Founded in 2000, Sitar Arts Center advances equitable access to high quality education and workforce development in the visual, performing, and digital arts. Sitar Arts Center engages DC youth, from early childhood to young adulthood, in building a creative community of learning and belonging that removes financial and cultural barriers to arts education and career training. Sitar envisions a city in which all young people experience transformative moments through quality, accessible arts education and career training, and are supported on their path to discover their creativity and achieve their full potential. For more information, visit www.sitarartscenter.org.