Ricardo Partida
Ricardo Partida was born in Ecatepec, Mexico. The artist received an MFA in Painting and Drawing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in Illinois in 2020 and a BFA in Studio Art from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley in 2017. Partida’s work challenges conventional power structures by creating exalted alter egos and performative avatars that obscure the artist and the subject. Partida’s work examines art history and its representation of male desire, particularly gendered visual language and its relationship to the homoerotic gaze. Partida lives and works in Chicago, Illinois.
Partida's oeuvre serves as a critical lens through which he interrogates art history, specifically its portrayal of male desire. He meticulously dissects the intricate interplay of gendered visual language and its deep connection to the homoerotic gaze. In the broader context of artistic expression, Partida's works act as a catalyst for reevaluating established norms and an invitation to engage in a profound discourse on identity, desire, and the limits of representation. Often, his works become a captivating canvas for his exploration of the enigmatic "Fag Fatale," a male character that he has created who embodies an effeminate allure that aims to bring the world to its knees.
Collect Bean: What does growth mean to you?
Ricardo Partida: To me, growth means the ability to adapt and thrive in an environment, using every experience and situation to nourish oneself and one's strength.
Collect Bean: If you had to describe your work in only three words, what would they be?
Ricardo Partida: Seductive, Entrapping, and Carnivorous
Collect Bean: What does an ideal day in your studio look like?
Ricardo Partida: An ideal day at the studio begins around mid-day before the CTA traffic jam has begun. I will make my way from home on the bus and stop at Chinatown for some lunch with friends before I head out to Garfield Park, that's where my studio is. I like to stop by the corner store for a big jug of water and a bag of Takis. I begin working in the afternoon and go all the way through the evening, making sure I take breaks to change brushes and fix my pallet, as well as to take a step back and really take a good look at what I’m working on. Sometimes, I'll work late; its nice to tap into a trance-like state where making the work just flows rather than feeling forced. Before it gets too late, I begin to make final assessments for the day - making notes on the side on what needs to be done the day after as I clean my brushes and pack to leave.
Collect Bean: Where are you currently finding inspiration?
Ricardo Partida: Recently, I've been drawn to Grindhouse posters. I really enjoy their dynamic setups using explosions and sexy pin-ups to frame titles. Mixing that up with the ongoing characters in my works feels like a natural way to further build on these power structures, or as I like to call them, FagFatales.
Collect Bean: What does your painting process look like from start to finish?
Ricardo Partida: I like to start with a dry-drag paint drawing with a small round brush to map out the figure; the more gestural, the better, since that always seems like the first thing to go when building up a figure. I then begin to lay out the darkest darks and the lightest lights in my figure, always being mindful not to lose my initial markings as well as to begin to build mass in the figure. I then assess, assess, assess, until the figure is legible from a distance. I like to squint my eyes to make sure the color value is up to par. I then begin working on small details and backdrop colors to isolate the subject matter in space. I then do a lot of looking at the work until I am satisfied with the outcome. They can't just be pretty, they have to be sexy too.
Collect Bean: How does where you grew up influence your work?
Ricardo Partida: I believe that where I grew up plays a big part in my work - I grew up in the Rio Grande Valley, a border town in South Texas where cultures meet and hybridities are highly present. Customs from both Texas and Northern Mexico were fused to create a unique environment full of proud, violent, beautiful men.
Collect Bean: What role does color play in your practice?
Ricardo Partida: Color plays an optimum part in my work. I've always said that while the central figures are the lead, color is the music they dance to in my works. I am always seeking to find the vibrato that happens when two colors bush up against each other, almost as if they were extracted from each other but always belonged side by side. One of my favorite combinations is Phthalo Green and Magenta, a match made in heaven.
Collect Bean: What is one of your current goals as an artist?
Ricardo Partida: To push myself outside my comfort zone and embrace the moment of surprise
Collect Bean: How do you decide on the subject matter for a painting?
Ricardo Partida: I usually begin making these characters people-watching, whether it's on my commute to the studio or sitting having lunch - I am fascinated by unapologetically , visually queer people. I like the negotiation with space and the shift of power that happens when you visibly choose your authenticity and happiness over your safety when navigating heteronormative spaces. I like to see the main person in charge at an establishment look like the ladybug from A Bug’s Life. I try to bottle up as much of that magic as possible and take it to the studio with me. Making these avatar paintings feels a lot like video game character building in the way that I get to take bits and pieces of references and put them together to make a suit.
Collect Bean: What is something that you do to stay focused?
Ricardo Partida: I drink a lot of cold water, especially when working at night. It sounds wild, but I actually don't drink coffee often, but feel something similar to what people describe as a good caffeine rush from drinking cold water, haha!
Collect Bean: How do you balance your practice with your daily life?
Ricardo Partida: I think my practice has become fully intertwined with my daily life. After painting for 12 years, it has become inevitable for my practice to be informed by my daily life and vice versa. It's nice to be able to surround yourself with people and an environment that allows you to grow and really explore who you are and what you seek to accomplish - and I mean, this can apply to anything, not just your practice.
Collect Bean: Tell us about a time when you felt you found your groove as an artist.
Ricardo Partida: When I was in grad school, I got fired from this heinous glitter bar that overworked me on school nights. This allowed me to spend more time in my studio and become fully submerged in my work- resulting in my first big sale that Fall during Open Studio night. This blessing propelled me to keep making work today.
Collect Bean: How do you think your work has evolved?
Ricardo Partida: I think my work is constantly changing, as am I. The characters shift and change in appearance; what began as an avatar of myself has become self-referential in the sense that the copy of a copy has lost itself and created an entirely new thing. I think of it as a suit I can wear to leap through realms and play out my fantasies and desires. In my opinion, the work has evolved by loosening its bounds to reality, such as a horizon, and embracing a psychic heartbeat of images.
