Cultural Resilience & Esoteric Symbols in La Mudanza | A Conversation with Artist Reynaldo GuAracibo

PRAA invites the community to join artist Reynaldo GuAracibo Rodríguez in conversation with assistant curator Sandra Santiago as they explore and decode symbols in the latest exhibit work La Mudanza: Seeds of Our Own Past. This engaging discussion will be open to audience questions. If you missed the opening reception this is your opportunity to chat with the artists and take a deeper look to the artist's work.

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The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance presents La Mudanza: Seeds from Our Past

A new exhibition that delves into the migration story of multidisciplinary artist Reynaldo “Guaracibo” Rodríguez from Puerto Rico to Chicago.

March 17 2025 (CHICAGO) - The Puerto Rican Arts Alliance (PRAA) presents the new exhibition La Mudanza: Seeds from Our Past by Chicago artist Reynaldo Rodriguez—widely known in the community as Guaracibo—who uses a rich tapestry of esoteric symbols to delve into themes of migration memory spirituality and cultural pride offering a deeply personal yet universally resonant artistic experience. The exhibition runs through November 26 2025 and is free to the public.

“A prolific figure in the Puerto Rican diaspora Guaracibo has developed a powerful visual language that reflects his cultural heritage personal migration journey and artistic evolution” said PRAA Exhibitions and Collections Program Director Jorge Félix. “We are thrilled to celebrate him as not only an artist but a passionate educator who has inspired young artists through our Studio Arts Program to explore their cultural identity through painting muralism and upcycled fashion design.”

La Mudanza which translates as “the move” or “relocation” blends realism with surreal elements drawing viewers into layered compositions that celebrate Puerto Rican identity ancestry and resilience.

Born in Arecibo Puerto Rico Guaracibo comes from humble beginnings and arrived in Chicago in 1990 where he became an integral part of the city’s vibrant Puerto Rican community. His artwork has been collected and featured in galleries and cultural institutions across New York Florida Puerto Rico and beyond leaving a lasting impact on the art world. His latest mural Seeds from Our Past stands prominently at Division Street and Maplewood Avenue in Paseo Boricua Chicago’s Puerto Rican cultural corridor.

Though primarily known as a painter Guaracibo’s artistic practice has evolved over the years incorporating sculpture upcycled fashion garments and installation art. The challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic marked a turning point in his creative journey. Limited to his home studio and scarce resources he turned to unconventional materials repurposing cardboard boxes and found objects into intricate reliefs and sculptures.

This transformation expanded his work beyond personal storytelling to address broader social and environmental issues such as sustainability recycling and the fashion industry’s impact on deforestation.

This new series enriches the visual narrative of La Mudanza. Utilizing unconventional materials Guaracibo’s work merges realism with surreal elements drawing viewers into layered compositions that celebrate Puerto Rican identity ancestry and resilience. La Mudanza showcases a collection infused with powerful cultural symbols: Taíno petroglyphs honoring the island’s Indigenous heritage; Afro-Caribbean spiritual traditions referencing Santería and Espiritismo; Jíbaro (rural) traditions capturing the essence of Puerto Rican countryside life; and Bomba music celebrating the rhythms and coastal Afro-Puerto Rican culture. La Mudanza: Seeds from Our Past resonates deeply with Puerto Ricans and Latin@s while inviting the broader Chicago community to connect with Guaracibo’s lasting contributions to the city’s rich arts and cultural landscape.

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