September 2024: Ray Perez – African Male Researcher of the Month
Ray Perez, an MFA student in Sculpture + Expanded Practice at Ohio University, is an emerging talent whose work is gaining national recognition for its innovative exploration of identity and societal themes. Hailing from Parma, Ohio, Perez has long been passionate about art, and his dedication to the craft was recently honored when he received the prestigious 2024 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award from the International Sculpture Center. This accolade not only celebrates Perez’s artistic prowess but also marks him as a voice to watch in contemporary sculpture. He is the third Ohio University student in the past five years to earn this esteemed recognition, underscoring the institution’s commitment to fostering cutting-edge talent.
The Journey to Ohio University
From an early age, Perez knew he was destined for the arts. Growing up in Parma, he immersed himself in every art opportunity he could find, eventually completing a two-year visual communications vocational program in high school that solidified his path. His undergraduate years were spent at Ohio University, where he earned a BFA in Sculpture + Expanded Practices in 2016. After working in the field and reflecting on his growth, he returned to Ohio University to pursue his MFA. Now in the final year of the rigorous three-year program, Perez has honed his artistic voice, balancing the pressures of academic life with the demands of his creative practice.
Perez credits much of his success to the supportive environment at Ohio University. Under the guidance of his thesis committee, comprised of respected faculty members Duane McDiarmid, Kate Hampel, Jennie Klein, and John Sabraw, Perez has found the encouragement to push the boundaries of his work. He speaks highly of their mentorship, which has been crucial in shaping his research and evolving his practice. The award, in his view, is as much a testament to their collective pedagogy as it is to his individual accomplishments.
“Lighthouse”: A Beacon of Identity and Resistance
The award-winning sculpture that earned Perez national acclaim, titled “Lighthouse,” is a profound metaphor for the Black male experience. The piece began as a personal exploration—a question of what monument could represent Perez’s body at this stage in his life. He settled on the imagery of a lighthouse, a structure that serves as both a guide and a warning. Perez saw parallels between this duality and his own experience of navigating societal expectations as a Black man. The lighthouse, in his work, represents the tension between seeking connection and maintaining protection, a balance many Black men must strike in their daily lives.
While Perez does not claim to speak for all Black men, he acknowledges that systemic barriers and cultural stigmas create a distinct set of challenges that his work seeks to address. His own experience as the only out queer Black person in his MFA program further informed the work, adding layers of complexity to the themes of identity and isolation. The rope and net-making elements in “Lighthouse” symbolize the strength that comes from community and interconnectedness. The net, in particular, acts as both a signal and a protective barrier—an open-ended metaphor that resonates with the universal human desire for connection amid uncertainty.
Perez’s artistic process is deeply informed by both lived experience and intellectual research. He approaches his work with a balance of emotional intuition and theoretical grounding, often spending as much time reading and reflecting as he does work with materials in the studio. This balance allows him to create pieces that are as conceptually rich as they are visually striking. The iterative, hands-on process that Perez employs is one of exploration, often beginning without a clear plan and evolving as the materials guide him. This openness to discovery, combined with the intellectual rigor of his research, has allowed him to push the boundaries of contemporary sculpture in ways that feel both personal and universally resonant.
Reflections on Winning the Award
Winning the 2024 Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award has been a deeply affirming experience for Perez. The recognition, he says, is not just an acknowledgment of the finished work but also of the research, risks, and vulnerability that went into its creation. For Perez, the award serves as a validation of his artistic vision and the themes he is passionate about exploring. It also fuels his desire to continue pushing forward, using his art to interrogate and challenge societal structures.
Perez hopes that this award will serve as a steppingstone in his career, opening doors to new opportunities for collaboration and dialogue. He is particularly excited about the potential to connect with a broader network of artists and thinkers who share his interest in exploring the intersections of identity, community, and resistance.
The Road Ahead: Artistic Aspirations and Advice
Looking ahead, Perez envisions a future where he continues to engage deeply with his ideas while expanding his reach as an artist. He is open to teaching and working in higher education, seeing the potential to inspire future generations of artists. However, his ultimate goal is to establish himself as a practicing artist, sharing his work through exhibitions, residencies, and other creative platforms. He hopes to continue using art as a medium for reflection and dialogue, challenging viewers to engage with complex themes of race, gender, and identity.
When offering advice to aspiring artists, Perez emphasizes the importance of authenticity and persistence. He encourages young creatives to embrace their unique perspectives and skillsets, reminding them that each artist’s journey is their own. Failure, he notes, is an integral part of the process—an opportunity for growth rather than a setback. This philosophy of embracing uncertainty and learning through experimentation is something Perez wishes he had internalized earlier in his career, and it has since become central to his creative approach.
Conclusion
Ray Perez is an artist whose work challenges, inspires, and provokes. His exploration of identity, community, and the Black male experience in America has not only earned him critical recognition but also positioned him as a rising voice in contemporary sculpture. As he continues to develop his practice and share his work with the world, Perez is poised to make a lasting impact on both the art world and the broader cultural conversation.
Cite this article as (APA format):
AR Managing Editor (2024). September 2024: Ray Perez – African Male Researcher of the Month. Retrieved from https://www.africanresearchers.org/september-2024-ray-perez-african-male-researcher-of-the-month/
The African Research (AR) Index is a comprehensive scholarly directory and database focused explicitly on journal publishers that publish and disseminate African research.
