Meet Carlos Daniel Perez-Boza | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carlos Daniel Perez-Boza and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carlos Daniel, any advice for those thinking about whether to keep going or to give up?

How to know whether to keep going or to give up is a question I’ve thought about for many years. I was born March 19, 1988 in Ponce, Puerto Rico. I am the oldest of five siblings. Shortly after my parents migrated from Puerto Rico to New York City in 1995, we lived in shelters seeking housing, and occasionally stayed with extended family. We eventually found a place I called home in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, NY. Somewhere along that path, my mother and father separated. I was too young to understand why, how and what had happened. I was very angry, upset, and confused as to why my father went back to Puerto Rico. I remember my last interaction with my father, walking from Delancey Street along the East River under the FDR drive toward the old World Trade Center. On our way back, my dad got on one knee, looked at me and said “Te amo. Tú tienes que seguir palante. Yo siempre estará aquí contigo. No tengas miedo. Si necesitas algo, déjame saber.” I was only eight years old pretending to be eighteen as my dad spoke to me in code with tears rolling down his face. A month later my father was gone, and a new man came, abusive, cold, and alcoholic. I hated America for what it had taken from me: love, unity, compassion and a father. Eventually my father came back three years later with a second family of his own.

How to know whether to keep going or to give up was a question I faced as an adolescent. My mother finally broke free from her abusive relationship. However, at the age of fourteen my reality ruptured. My mother suddenly fell into a coma, which lasted 16 years. I was overtaken by rage and depression. In that Summer of 03, couch surfing, dropping out of school, working low wages, smoking lots of weed and nicotine became my new reality. I kept going, but didn’t know where I was going. I worked at Pearl Paint on Canal street where I met wonderful artists and compassionate friends. Pearl Paint became my second home. My passion for the arts started to flourish. I was in love with all the different types of materials and art supplies. Within a couple of years working there, I met a customer who changed my life: my unconditionally loving partner and wife, Nicole.

Survival propelled me to keep going. This life was chosen for me. I learned how to nurture the life that I have through an amazing family I’ve created with an amazing partner. Life showed me the darkest of sides. Without that I wouldn’t be able to move forward. I turned to nature, meditation and a lot therapy. I look forward to the journey ahead of me.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

My work is directly influenced by my identity and life journey. I am self-taught artist of color. My work has taken many directions throughout my practice. As a teenager I would ride the buses and trains in NYC, leaving marks. Some call it “vandalism,” and I called it “freedom of expression.” In my early twenties I brought more intention to my work, addressing oppression, police brutality, systematic racism, colonialism, and power dynamics. I work from the aftermath of pain, loss, suffering, courage, resilience and trauma. This helped me envision a revolutionary moment, an apocalyptic-like atmosphere where past, present and future collides. I was heavily inspired by Francisco de Goya, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, because of the heavy details in their work. I also drew inspiration from Egyptian mythology, Greek mythology, astronomy, astrology, religion, cults, and money prints. This laid the foundation for my next phase into my practice, Spirituality.

The role of color transformed in my work. I pulled from Afro-Futurism, Surrealism, Romanticism and Expressionism. I worked to give vision to my own story. I started working really large and freely, almost dancing to the canvas. The detail In my paintings expanding from tiny linework to broad brushstroke. I was inspired by Alex Grey, Salvador Dali, and Sun Ra. Seeing all these connections between my life story, the work of other artists and my painting process helped me grow and mature as a creator, teacher and student. I feel most inspired by the witching hour, experimenting deep into the night. Oh or… you fuck it up. But that’s what excites me. In 2017 I became a full-time student at California College of the Arts. In 2020, I obtained my BFA in Community Arts. As a Community Artist in San Francisco, I painted murals. I worked with non-profits, teaching youth to tell their stories and seek healing through creative expression. I performed pop-up art interventions, to explore community members’ thoughts on housing, gentrification, sport, food, music… literally anything. I created my own Fine Arts show in an alley of San Francisco Mission District. I collaborated with Gateway High School students and Nicole Rose Gelormino as a guest Teaching Artist.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love spending time with family and friends at the beach. I love anywhere along the PCH. I love camping. There are so many great sites throughout California. I love me some road trips! Food-wise I would say come on over to my place! I love cooking a bomb-ass meal!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?

I’d like to dedicate this shout out to my younger self. As I get older, I realize that I never gave myself enough credit for all the hard work I’ve put in to being where I am today. I’d also like to give a shout out to my college professors David Huffman. Bryan Keith Thomas, and Aaron Gach. They are amazing artists, great mentors, loving souls and wonderful people who have helped me on my path of self-realization.

David Huffman, thank you for helping me channel my intentions within my artistic practice at California College of the Arts. Our time during your painting courses has forever impacted the way I create. You encouraged me to listen to my story as I painted, to be authentic, share my visions with the viewers and translate the work verbally to my audience. You always help me push the work beyond my vision through our conversations.

Bryan Keith Thomas, you helped me understand that there is a tenderness to my story. You taught me to cradle my work like a newborn that needs love. Through our spiritual conversation, you helped me channel my vulnerable self with confidence, elegancy, and sophistication. You also reminded me to make marks and “scars” so that my viewers can feel what I’m painting. You encouraged me to include new materials in my repertoire to expand the depth of meaning in my work.

Aaron Gach, Community Arts Professor at California College of the Arts, you said, “Let the faucet loose. Your peers need your constructive criticism.” You called on me to step up as a leader. Thank you Aaron.

The Bronx, you’ll always have my heart for giving me grit and for showing me what it’s like to live through the struggles on behalf of my Puerto Rican heritage. Dad, you’ve always showed me love, compassion and dependability. You respected the biggest risks I took. Your name Carlos Jose Perez will forever live through me. Mom, who I so dearly love and will forever miss, you showed me how to be brave, through the darkest hours.

I also like to give a shout out to my partner, my friend, my love, Nicole Rose Gelormino. She brought a wonderful soul into our life. Our daughter, Sabrina is our greatest collaboration. You’ve always believed in me since you first saw me working back at Pearl Paint. You’ve help be bring the best version of myself . You knew that I needed the right time to unleash my true self. You’ve always supported me through my highs and lows. You’ve always encouraged me to pursue my dreams and embrace success. You’re my best one!

Website: https://perez-boza.wixsite.com/cdpb

Instagram: Daniel_Boza

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@cdpbstudios8808/about

Image Credits
Nicole Rose Gelormino, Carlos Daniel Perez-boza, Kayla de Guzman