283 Joaquin Stacey on Ecuadorian Identity, Latin American Art, Catholic Iconography & Fermentation as Practice

Artist Joaquin Stacey joins Javier Proenza for a conversation on art, identity, and cultural formation shaped by migration. Born in Ecuador and raised in Miami before relocating to Los Angeles for his MFA at Otis College of Art and Design, Stacey reflects on how geography, language, and institutional training inform his practice. The discussion moves through painting, performance, and installation, with particular attention to Catholic iconography, mestizaje, diaspora, and the contradictions of living in the United States while remaining connected to Ecuador. Stacey also describes his use of fermentation and sourdough as both material and conceptual frameworks, challenging linear notions of time, labor, and artistic process.