Meet Shanequa Benitez | Artist / innovator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shanequa Benitez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art is my heart, my pain, my love, my fears, my doubts, my beliefs, my traumas, and my purpose! My creative process stems from my emotions, current events; things I’ve witnessed and things I’ve experienced. “Never Conform” is a way of life for me and I include it in my work often.Working on art is my one true way of being true to who I am and what I stand for, never conforming to the norm. When I start new work my first question to self is, “how do I feel?”. The process usually starts with some kind of reference materials. I like using books, magazines, tv, current events, and real life experiences. I consider my paintings neo-Impressionism. I reject the traditional standards of composition and design while conveying emotion and meaning rather than reality. Working with oil paint sticks gives me the freedom I need to really bring the details I’m feeling to life on the canvas. The materials I prefer are acrylic paint, oil paint sticks, Textiles and mixed media materials.
In my next body of work I will give life to the black experience from the perspective of my paint brush. I’m looking to also bridge the gap between my small mixed media works and my large contemporary pieces. The greatest thing about being a nonconformist is the exploration. When you combine not conforming and creating art you get raw brutal honesty, something you will always see and feel in my work.

Making this my main thing wasn’t easy and it still has its challenges. I took the biggest risk and decided i wasn’t gonna work for anyone. During that time I was more focused on producing clothing so that kept me a float financially. These days I’ve been more focused on making art, and even that’s been a transition. I’m currently in a residency with Yonkers arts and MHACY. The overall objective is to make work that centers around redlining. I’m confident that this next body of work I’m producing will open doors for me to take my work global. I’m really excited about this work I’m doing. I’ve learned so much along the way, the biggest lesson was/is ALWAYS BET ON YOURSELF. I’m thankful for my support system because they are the ones who’ve helped me get through some of that challenges I’ve faced over the years.
What I want people to know about my story is it’s still being written. Be on the lookout for me cause I don’t got next, I got NOW.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Yonkers first and foremost , I’d show them where I started . After that we would prolly hit one of my favorite places to eat which is Guapos. From there we would jump on the metro north, next stop HARLEM. Some of my favorite spots In Harlem are Marcus Garvy Park, Central Park, Langston Huges house, patsy’s pizza, melbas for the soul food, and just walking around Harlem. New York has so many layers but those are some of my favorites.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
First I gotta thank my parents and family for supporting me and keeping me focused. My extended family the Howard’s and the Nusbaum’s. I gotta thank my mentors who have guided me this far and continue to guide me( they know who they are). Special thanks to my city, the city Yonkers. My city has invested so much into me, the only way to pay them back is to continue to put on globally. Special thanks to Yonkers arts and MHACY for putting me in the position to take my work to another level, by being the fist artist in residence. Riverfront art gallery for given me my first art residency. Hudson River Museum for having me in my first museum show. Warburton Galerie/ Urban Studio Unbound for showcasing My work in their galleries from day one. I cannot forget the Heath’s and Heath gallery for teaching me and constantly guiding me in art and life. I hope I didn’t forget anyone.

Website: Www.paintdbyqua.com

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