Bio
Materials from exploded stars, dinosaur bones, Woolly Mammoth fur, 2,000-year-old Roman coins, and bullets from the American Civil War find a home in mixed media sculptures by Jorge Cainas, alongside commonplace items, spices, and dried flowers. Artist Jorge Cainas bound them together using materials like concrete, resin, electrical wire, and refrigeration tubing.
Jorge Cainas is an artist living and working in Seattle, Washington. He recently graduated from Full Sail University with an MFA in Media Design, and has a BA in Creative Advertising from the University of South Florida. He has also sought further art education through the Pratt Fine Arts Center in Seattle, Washington.
Jorge Cainas was born in 1993, in Tampa, Florida. His father, Jorge, was an immigrant from Cuba that started his own business before passing in 2004. His mother, Jennifer, raised him and his two sisters while working multiple jobs. Eventually she became a professor with a doctorate degree. The work ethic of his mother and father, the fragility of life, and the preciousness of time are all major driving forces in his creative output.
His father’s business was blue-collar. He used tools and materials of construction, electrical work, and satellite technology. When he passed the tools of their home workshop were unused. When Jorge Cainas became interested in sculpture he turned to these tools. His fascination with the natural world along with the available tools led him to create floral arrangements using copper wire and minerals. This innovative sculptural style became his main vehicle of expression, as he would title his pieces with poetry and wordplay.
Many of themes repeated in his work are related to science, nature, and the human experience. The intentional use and orientation of materials along with the titles express his meaning.
Artist Statement
Many of the themes repeated in my artwork are related to science, nature, and the human experience. I try to express these ideas through my artistic practices, typically taking the form of sculpture.
I use many techniques to create my sculptures such as wire wrapping, basket weaving, metalworking, and painting.
The materials I use are minerals from around the world, meteorites, fossils, antiques, everyday objects, and even edible ingredients. I hold all of these different materials together using wire, concrete, resin, glue and paint. Where I place these materials within each artwork is meant to express the concepts, play with light, utilize color, and draw connections between the materials.
After using all of these different techniques and design choices the end result is a sculpture that is usually sparkling, intricate, and abstract. It isn’t until the viewer reads the title and material list that they start to discover more of the meanings.
I create sculptures like this so that a wide audience can look at them, enjoy them, and become inspired by them. It also provides a way for me to express my thoughts and complicated inner world using a sparkling object as a barrier between the viewer and myself.
The major things that inspire me are the natural world and the many aspects of being human. It is my hope that my artwork can inspire a greater appreciation for the natural world and our fellow human beings.
Education
2020 MFA Media Design Full Sail University, Winter Park, FL
Salutatorian, Academic Achievement Award
2016 BA Advertising, Creative Route, Zimmerman School of Advertising, USF Tampa, FL Major GPA: 3.83
2021 Introduction to Welding Sculptural Forms, Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle, WA
2021 Beginning Jewelry/Metals, Pratt Fine Arts Center, Seattle, WA
Awards
2016 1st Place, The Thornhill Foundation for the Arts, Paint the Town, live painting competition
2015 Honorable Mention Award, Old Hyde Park Art Center’s Hellzapoppin 2015 for Painting work
titled: Impastor
2013 Honorable Mention Award, Carrollwood Cultural Center’s Inspiration 2013 for Painting work titled: Fatal Attraction
Exhibitions
2023 August- Present, Venn Gallery, Resident Artist, Seattle, WA
2024 August, Annie’s Art & Frame, Ballard Art Walk, Seattle, WA
2024 Jul-Aug, Gallery Club, 210 Seattle, Seattle, WA
2024 July 26-28, Bellevue Arts Museum Arts Fair, Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, WA
2024 May-Aug, Parklane Gallery, 3D Guest Artist, Kirkland, WA
2024 May-June, A Colossal Trip, Greenwood Art Collective, Group Exhibition, Seattle, WA
2024 May, 210 Seattle Night Market, 210 Seattle, Seattle, WA
2024 March, Rebirth, Greenwood Art Collective, Group Exhibition, Seattle, WA
2024 February, Design Within Reach, Group Exhibition, Seattle, WA
2023 November 26, Winter Art Fair, Sunset Hill Community Center, Seattle, WA
2023 October 14, Monster Mash, Georgetown Trailer Park Mall, Seattle, WA
2023 July 29, Sunset Hill Walking Art Fair, Group Exhibition, Seattle, WA
2023 July, Venn Gallery, Guest Artist- Greenwood Artwalk, Seattle, WA
2023 June 9, Pulp Fiction, Sugarwall Gallery, Group Exhibition, Seattle, WA
2023 June, Night Market, River, Seattle, WA
2023 June, The Title is THICK, Base Camp Studios, Seattle, WA
2023 May, F*ckin’ Around ‘N’ Around, Base Camp Studios, Seattle, WA
2023 May 5, Spring Fresh, Group Exhibition, Stilig Studio, Snohomish, WA
2023 April 29 – June, Untold Story, Group Exhibition, Betz Winery, Woodinville, WA
2023 March - August, Park Ave Contemporary Art, Winter Park, FL
2023 February, Bloom Music and Art Festival, Tampa, FL
2023 February, At the risk of seeming ridiculous, Group Exhibition, Department of Contemporary Art, Ybor City, FL
2023 January, Hidden Gems Market, Tulalip, WA
2022 November, Pancakes and Booze, El Corazon, Seattle, WA
2022 November, WAA jewelry sculpture wine, Betz Family Winery, Woodinville, WA
2021 Group Exhibition, full disclosure, curated by Mo Quick, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA
2021 Solo Exhibition, A Work in Progress, Gasworks Gallery, Seattle, WA
2019 Group Exhibition, Live Art Demonstration, Moore Than Rocks, Kent, WA
2018 October Kent Washington Art Walk, Moore Than Rocks, Kent, WA
2017 Group Exhibition, TFA artLAB, Centennial Park Ybor, FL
2017 Solo Exhibition, A Garden Of Time, In Time, Lobby Installation, Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, FL
2016 Solo Exhibition, A Solo Exhibition by Jorge Cainas, Alcove Gallery, Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, FL
2016 Solo Exhibition, A Solo Exhibition by Jorge Cainas, Corridor and Alcove Galleries, Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, FL
2015 Two-Person Exhibition, An Exhibition by Kento Kawakami and Jorge Cainas, William and Nancy Oliver Gallery, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL
2015 Hellzapoppin: 2015, The Old Hyde Park Art Center, Tampa, FL Solo Exhibition,
2013 Felicitous Coffee and Tea, Tampa, FL
2013 Hellzapoppin: 2013, The Old Hyde Park Art Center, Tampa, FL Inspiration: 2013, The Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, FL
Related Experience
2022-2023 Artist Member, Woodinville Arts Alliance
2019 Artist Member, The Seattle Artist League
2017 Presenter, The Great American Teach-In, Winthrop Charter School, Riverview, FL
2017 Co-Producer, artLAB, Thornhill Foundation for the Arts, Ybor City, FL
2017 Live Painting and Balloon Installation, Streetcar Festival/4th Friday, Ybor Chamber of Commerce, Ybor City, FL
2017- Present Member, The Tampa Bay Mineral and Science Club
2017 Performer, Roll the Credits, Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, FL
2016-2018 Board of Directors, The Thornhill Foundation for the Arts
2016 Producer/Performer, Reception night entertainment, Carrollwood Cultural Center, Tampa, FL
2016 Juror, Jesuit High School, Tampa, FL Annual School of Arts Event
2016 Performer, Performed the role of the Rabbit, Down the Rabbit Hole, Bloom Art Center, Saint Petersburg, FL
2013- 2016 Director/Performer/Producer/Writer/Editor/Set Design/Costume Design/Casting, Full-length Documentary, T.S.F.P.O.T.O.
Resume
