While artist Ariel Baez ‘16 works mainly with photography and film in his art — he also supports fellow artists in his work with the Collective Futures Fund in Boston. “Our goal is to support and fund independent organized, public-facing, artists-centered activities, such as artist-run spaces, collectives, independent research.”
Baez was born in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, moved to Boston, and made his way to Denison as a studio art major. While at Denison he pursued painting and was the Denison student representative to an annual all-Ohio college art contest. He also interned at the Denison Museum and even helped curate an exhibition. “Working in a museum is similar to utilizing a time machine because objects date back as early as the 15th century, and each object tells a story that you learn as you work with it.”
Baez received his MFA from Tufts University in 2018 and his art was soon back at Denison, featured in a 2020 show curated by Ron Abram and Stonewall Columbus.
Baez has been pouring his creativity into a number of different art jobs, including his current position at Collective Futures Fund, which partners with the Andy Warhol Foundation.
“I really enjoy what I am doing. In the fall of 2020, Collective Futures Fund had the opportunity to give out 40 emergency covid relief grants to visual artists in the Greater Boston area. These grants total $60,000. It’s an amazing opportunity to help give back to artists in the community especially during these crucial times. We are now gearing up to unravel our yearly grants for 2021. Exciting times.”
