Roland Becerra has a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago; MFA, Yale University, School of Art. Becerra has also studied at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and The Cleveland Institute of Art. He has also won several artist grants and awards and has exhibited his work widely throughout the North East including six solo shows in Philadelphia, PA; His work has also been published in several publications throughout his career.
Artist statement
I am a visual artist and filmmaker working primarily in painting, animation, and comics. My most recent paintings were inspired by Franz Kafka’s quote, "I was ashamed of myself when I realized that life was a costume party, and I attended with my real face." Combining satire and social commentary, I’m exploring themes of inauthenticity and the creation of artificial lifestyles, with figures wearing masks to hide their identities, which is meant to parody bourgeoisie grandeur while exposing its absurdities.
Growing up in Miami’s exiled Cuban community, my worldview was shaped by Cold War-era narratives, ideological tensions between Catholicism, Socialism, and Capitalism, and the lasting impact of the Cuban Revolution. This cultural backdrop fostered a critical perspective on authority and identity, which continues to inform my work.
As an extension to my paintings, I also make animated films and comics. Through an intricate animation process, I made AGATHA, a feature-length film completed in 2022. It combines live-action with animation, aiming to present a modern-day New England folktale. Also, my 170-page graphic novel, also titled AGATHA, completed in 2024, is a continuation of the film's concepts and themes, expressed through hand-drawn techniques. both explore themes of decay and the effects of time on individuals and society.
AGATHA is designed to be a hybrid between Film and Painting, with the goal of creating a “Moving Painting”. My previous Animated short “Dear Beautiful” premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Learn more about AGATHA here: https://www.agathathemovie.com/notes