Sofia Maldonado named Official Artist for 21st Annual Latin GRAMMYs

Latin GRAMMYs are Nov 19th on Univision

The Latin Recording Academy has announced that Puerto Rican fine artist Sofia Maldonado has been selected as the official artist of the 21st Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. Maldonado’s work will be featured prominently on collateral materials before and during the 21st Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, which will broadcast live on Univision on November 19th from 8–11 pm ET/PT.

“Maldonado’s art is powerful and full of effervescent colors reminiscent of Puerto Rico, the island where she was born. Her art recognizes resilience amid moments of despair while also celebrating and empowering Latin communities,” states Gabriel Abaroa Jr., President/CEO of The Latin Recording Academy. “Together, these components reflect the elements of Latin music that unite us all during joyful but also difficult moments.”

In the artwork created especially for the 21st Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards, Maldonado portrays through vibrant colors the importance of enjoying life even during challenging times. Adjusting to an even more virtual world, the official artwork will be rendered mainly, digitally. Inclusive of the iconic gramophone symbolizing excellence in music, this year’s artwork also includes an outline of a tropical tree — a yagrumo, which symbolizes rebirth. The yagrumo is native to Puerto Rico and after a hurricane is the first tree to reemerge. Additionally, in Puerto Rico, the yagrumo is used to create music instruments such as the tiple and cuatro puertorriqueño, a traditional string instrument smaller than a guitar but larger than a mandolin.

An acclaimed painter and muralist from Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, Maldonado graduated from the Pratt Institute of Brooklyn, New York and the San Juan School of Visual Arts. She has shown her work in individual and collective exhibits in galleries, museums and public spaces in all over the world, including top specific locations such as Whitney Biennial, the Museum of Latin American Art, as well as Scope and Art Miami. Maldonado’s characteristic style is recognizable for its Caribbean palette and roots in muralism (or muralist art). She deconstructs organic forms in order to explore color fields in her work.

“It is an honor to be the first Puerto Rican artist to collaborate with such an iconic organization and award show, especially during a time when we need to empower and bring joy to our communities. My art has always been in conversation with my context and during the past few months, living in the pandemic and seeing the resilience of our Latino community, inspired the creation of this piece and will continue to inspire my work in the future,” shares Maldonado.

Sofía Maldonado-Suárez is a Puerto Rican artist of Cuban descent. She has dedicated her career to transforming derelict spaces, constructing a poetic experience of colorful abstractions, within uninhabited buildings. Maldonado’s urban walkabouts inspired a desire to use color to impact the environment and engage the community through workshops and versatile community engagement initiatives. The artist also has a dynamic studio practice as a painter and digital illustrator. Collaborations with musicians and underground subcultures are an integral part of her artistic practice and aesthetic. She represents feminine energy in her expressive outlines and sensually themed drawings that challenge cultural myths and social constructs. Throughout her career, Maldonado’s illustrations of femininity have been defiant and present the pleasure associated with the female experience in detail. Maldonado has earned a BFA from the Escuela de Artes Plásticas y Diseño de Puerto Rico and an MFA from Pratt Institute, in Brooklyn, New York.

Buddy Iahn
Buddy Iahn

Buddy Iahn founded The Music Universe when he decided to juxtapose his love of web design and music. As a lifelong drummer, he decided to take a hiatus from playing music to report it. The website began as a fun project in 2013 to one of the top independent news sites. Email: info@themusicuniverse.com