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Fruto de Borínken
Hector Rodriguez
"This piece is a heartfelt homage to the incredible women in my family and the rich culture of Puerto Rico. It captures my deep love for the natural beauty, vibrant music, and passionate spirit that flows through their veins—expressed in our delicious food, lively attitudes, and the immense love they have shared with me. It also evokes the powerful warmth of the midday sun in Puerto Rico, reflecting the essence of our cherished heritage."
This work of art is acrylic on canvas.
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Fruto de Borínken (Vase Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
"This piece is a heartfelt homage to the incredible women in my family and the rich culture of Puerto Rico. It captures my deep love for the natural beauty, vibrant music, and passionate spirit that flows through their veins—expressed in our delicious food, lively attitudes, and the immense love they have shared with me. It also evokes the powerful warmth of the midday sun in Puerto Rico, reflecting the essence of our cherished heritage."
This work of art is acrylic on canvas.
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Green Haven
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2024
This work of art is acrylic on burlap with a repurposed frame with paper mache, gold acrylic and spray paint.
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Green Haven (Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2024
This work of art is acrylic on burlap with a repurposed frame with paper mache, gold acrylic and spray paint.
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Green Haven (Frame Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2024.
This work of art is acrylic on burlap with a repurposed frame with paper mache, gold acrylic and spray paint.
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Incarcerated Thoughts (Left Half Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2024
This work of art is acrylic on burlap.
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Incarcerated Thoughts (Right Half Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2024
This work of art is acrylic on burlap.
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Incarcerated Thoughts (Upper Half Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2024
This work of art is acrylic on burlap.
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Aladdin Sanchez
Hector Rodriguez
Watch the story of Aladdin Sanchez, another justice impacted individual who is pursuing college in prison.
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If You Don't Like What You See Change It
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2022
This work of art is colored pencil and ink on mixed media paper.
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If You Don't Like What You See Change It (Left Half Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2022
This work of art is colored pencil and ink on mixed media paper.
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If You Don't Like What You See Change It (Right Half Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2022
This work of art is colored pencil and ink on mixed media paper.
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My Sorrows, in a Fucking Cage
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2020
This work of art is colored pencil on mixed media paper.
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What Goes Up Must Come Down
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2020
This work of art is colored pencil on mixed media paper, 18x24.
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What Goes Up Must Come Down (Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2020
This work of art is colored pencil on mixed media paper, 18x24.
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What Goes Up Must Come Down (Signature Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2020
This work of art is colored pencil on mixed media paper, 18x24.
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An Ideology That Hurts All
Hector Rodriguez
"In the fall of 2018, I started taking classes through the Bard Prison Initiative. By the following year, I’d read Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, works by Plato, James Baldwin, and Lois Tyson’s Critical Theory Today. These books opened my eyes to the foundations of society, how white supremacist ideologies are kept alive, and how they impact both people and the environment. I saw how these beliefs are passed down to boys and girls, shaping them to fill predefined social roles. But those who dare to challenge these oppressive systems often pay a price—they’re marginalized, broken down, and subjected to various forms of abuse.
In this piece, I have children witnessing the destruction of Mother Nature and being disrupted by the type of future that awaits them."
Created 2019
This work of art is done in colored pencil and ink on drawing paper.
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An Ideology That Hurts All (No Frame)
Hector Rodriguez
"In the fall of 2018, I started taking classes through the Bard Prison Initiative. By the following year, I’d read Mary Wollstonecraft’s A Vindication of the Rights of Woman, works by Plato, James Baldwin, and Lois Tyson’s Critical Theory Today. These books opened my eyes to the foundations of society, how white supremacist ideologies are kept alive, and how they impact both people and the environment. I saw how these beliefs are passed down to boys and girls, shaping them to fill predefined social roles. But those who dare to challenge these oppressive systems often pay a price—they’re marginalized, broken down, and subjected to various forms of abuse.
In this piece, I have children witnessing the destruction of Mother Nature and being disrupted by the type of future that awaits them."
Created 2019
This work of art is done in colored pencil and ink on drawing paper.
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I Woman (Keep Them)
Hector Rodriguez
"On one of my many trips to the prison library, I found several articles that struck me deeply. One covered the driving ban imposed on Saudi Arabian women. At the same time, another exposed the harsh reality of around 100 million girls who had undergone female genital mutilation, with millions more at risk across Africa and beyond. I tore these pages from the magazines, slipped them into my pockets, and returned them to my cell.
Reflecting on what I’d read, I began experimenting with the concept of “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” This idea seemed to reinforce a grim truth: women were often expected not to feel, live, or choose but merely to look sexually attractive, bear children, and serve men.
These stories evoked a vivid memory from my childhood in Puerto Rico. I vividly recall a warm evening when my aunt—who held the dual role of my beloved guardian—joined a local Christian church. We stood expectantly outside our home and awaited the arrival of the church van.
When the van pulled up, my aunt raised me to sit on the seat, but the driver, a stern figure with an imposing presence, stopped her from stepping inside. His words pierced the evening's tranquility as he instructed her to go back home, change out of her pants for a long, modest skirt, and remove the makeup from her face. Her expression shifted from confusion to a forced acceptance, and I have never forgotten the look of shame on her face.
This tryptic is a window to a past that shouldn’t have a resounding echo today. Sadly, our recent presidential election serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles surrounding women’s rights globally, echoing the challenges that continue to shape our societal landscape."
Created 2014/2024
This work of art is acrylic on canvas and is a tryptic, 24” by 54”.
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I Woman (Mutilation)
Hector Rodriguez
"On one of my many trips to the prison library, I found several articles that struck me deeply. One covered the driving ban imposed on Saudi Arabian women. At the same time, another exposed the harsh reality of around 100 million girls who had undergone female genital mutilation, with millions more at risk across Africa and beyond. I tore these pages from the magazines, slipped them into my pockets, and returned them to my cell.
Reflecting on what I’d read, I began experimenting with the concept of “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” This idea seemed to reinforce a grim truth: women were often expected not to feel, live, or choose but merely to look sexually attractive, bear children, and serve men.
These stories evoked a vivid memory from my childhood in Puerto Rico. I vividly recall a warm evening when my aunt—who held the dual role of my beloved guardian—joined a local Christian church. We stood expectantly outside our home and awaited the arrival of the church van.
When the van pulled up, my aunt raised me to sit on the seat, but the driver, a stern figure with an imposing presence, stopped her from stepping inside. His words pierced the evening's tranquility as he instructed her to go back home, change out of her pants for a long, modest skirt, and remove the makeup from her face. Her expression shifted from confusion to a forced acceptance, and I have never forgotten the look of shame on her face.
This tryptic is a window to a past that shouldn’t have a resounding echo today. Sadly, our recent presidential election serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles surrounding women’s rights globally, echoing the challenges that continue to shape our societal landscape."
Created 2014/2024
This work of art is acrylic on canvas and is a tryptic, 24” by 54”.
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I Woman (Take Away)
Hector Rodriguez
"On one of my many trips to the prison library, I found several articles that struck me deeply. One covered the driving ban imposed on Saudi Arabian women. At the same time, another exposed the harsh reality of around 100 million girls who had undergone female genital mutilation, with millions more at risk across Africa and beyond. I tore these pages from the magazines, slipped them into my pockets, and returned them to my cell.
Reflecting on what I’d read, I began experimenting with the concept of “see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.” This idea seemed to reinforce a grim truth: women were often expected not to feel, live, or choose but merely to look sexually attractive, bear children, and serve men.
These stories evoked a vivid memory from my childhood in Puerto Rico. I vividly recall a warm evening when my aunt—who held the dual role of my beloved guardian—joined a local Christian church. We stood expectantly outside our home and awaited the arrival of the church van.
When the van pulled up, my aunt raised me to sit on the seat, but the driver, a stern figure with an imposing presence, stopped her from stepping inside. His words pierced the evening's tranquility as he instructed her to go back home, change out of her pants for a long, modest skirt, and remove the makeup from her face. Her expression shifted from confusion to a forced acceptance, and I have never forgotten the look of shame on her face.
This tryptic is a window to a past that shouldn’t have a resounding echo today. Sadly, our recent presidential election serves as a poignant reminder of the ongoing struggles surrounding women’s rights globally, echoing the challenges that continue to shape our societal landscape."
Created 2014/2024
This work of art is acrylic on canvas and is a tryptic, 24” by 54”.
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La Prisión I (Bottom Left Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2014
This work of art is acrylic on canvas, 18x24.
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La Prisión I (Bottom Right Close-Up)
Hector Rodriguez
Created 2014
This work of art is acrylic on canvas, 18x24.
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