Today we’d like to introduce you to David Fuentes. Them and their team share their story with us below:
David Fuentes was born and raised in Corpus Christi, TX. David was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy on the right side of his body in 1978. At a young age, he was very determined to not let his disability define him.
David was influenced by toys and comics from the ’80s and ’90s and knew he had an aptitude for drawing that has stayed with him throughout his life. Most recently Fuentes has self-published his first comic book called ” Warrior of the Wind”. He has participated in numerous local, national, and international exhibitions. Also, Fuentes has been published in newspaper and magazine articles about his work with Cerebral Palsy.
Fuentes earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2005 from Texas A&M
University-Corpus Christi. In the fall of 2010, he earned his Master’s of Fine Arts from the University of Dallas.
Currently, he is working as a professor teaching varies classes in the foundations in art at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.
David’s work is the emotional and physical journey of a man reflecting upon and confronting his own life, limitations, and abilities because of and beyond his Cerebral Palsy.
He has always had limited mobility in the bones, muscles, and tendons on the right side of my body. Consequently, David is naturally left-handed. He never once questioned that feeling. It just was. And that was his strength…until now.
Through this journey, David wanted to understand the capabilities of what he thought were his limitations. And wanted to use what he perceived as weakness, his right hand, to create part of his work. “I expected to find some new perspectives, new lines, new angles.
What I found, instead, was balance.
My right-hand created lines and shapes that were spontaneous and unplanned, disjointed and erratic.”
The finished works are not crisp and clean. Lines and shapes are not straight, and that’s all right. Prior to this experience, everything he had ever created had to be clean, polished, and perfect. An over compensation for the part of himself he thought was lacking. But now that it’s not, David feels strangely complete. The unity of both sides of his body makes his pieces dance in harmony in a way he never intended or expected.
“I have always defined my life through my Cerebral Palsy, and that is simply not true. My work has always reflected the individual that I am on the surface — the physical nature of my existence, but now I can say I am much more than my limitations.”
David’s art is a constantly evolving introspective journey with himself and the relationships he develops with others along the way. Dealing with these situations makes him understand himself more as an individual.
“My work has allowed me to speak through my hands and heart so that you, too, can share my vulnerabilities, struggles, and achievements as a fellow human being.”
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I believe life is made up of hills and valleys…you will always have your ups and downs. You keep pushing through. Artistically you always have those days when things are not happening. Being an artist with a disability is probably the hardest part of the road.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I have several disciplines, including drawing, painting, and printmaking. But I gravitate to painting the most. The current fine artwork is a series dedicated to the idea of using my disability (Cerebral Palsy) to create the watercolor portraits. Eventually, I believe I will become more abstract. My heart is telling me that I need to venture out of working from reality.
Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
Toys and comics were always a big influence on my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.worksbydavidfuentes.com
- Instagram: @worksbydavidfuentes
- Facebook: Works by David Fuentes
Image Credits
Cantu Photography
