Artist Statement
What does it mean to be masculine and what is the relevance of this question at a time where there is greater acceptance of gender and sexual fluidity. My work addresses the issues of identity formation, eroticism, violence, and perception of the body explored through the subject of sports. My art practice is greatly informed by my previous work experience as a fashion designer. I work with materials used in fashion and associated with sports to create sculptural objects, deconstructing and reconstructing athletic wear and sports equipment and combining them with metal and concrete. Conceptually I find areas of overlap between fashion and sports such as the dichotomy of masculine versus feminine, voyeurism and the notion of idealized bodies and the transformations made to acquire those bodies. Through sculptural objects I seek to convey these concepts allowing form and the materials used to create them to elicit emotional reactions that inhabit these concepts. The objects seek to convey a grotesque but seductive quality that simultaneously speaks to the violence and eroticism that function in the arena of sports. Spectators and athletes alike bear witness to the tension inherit in sports, acting as willing or unwilling participants. My work seeks to question long held stereotypes about masculinity in sport to activate conversations that can broaden the perception of what constitutes masculinity and the ways men can inhabit social spaces.
BIO
Nelson Cantada is an artist and educator based in Chicago, IL working in sculpture and art installation. Born in the Philippines and raised in East Brunswick, NJ, Nelson attended New York University’s Stern School of Business, receiving a BS in Marketing, and Rutgers University, receiving a BA in Psychology, before pursuing a career in design and the arts. After earning a BFA in Fashion Design from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, Nelson spent seven years in the fashion industry working for LA based fashion companies such as BCBG Max Azria where he held the position of Associate Designer for the Max Azria runway collection. Most recently Nelson has completed his Masters degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago developing his thesis under the guidance of renowned visual artist Nick Cave. Nelson was a recipient of SAIC’s New Artists Society scholarship and was awarded the judges prize for his Masters thesis installation. His artwork has been shown as part of group exhibitions in Chicago, IL, Detroit, MI and Brooklyn, NY.
CV
Education
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
Masters in Design, Fashion, Body and Garment/May 2018
New Artists Society Scholarship Recipient
Studio Bercot, Paris
Exchange Program Fellowship/September 2001-May 2002 Coursework: Fashion Design
Academy of Art University, San Francisco
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Fashion Design/August 2002
Rutgers University, Livingston College
Bachelor of Arts, Psychology/October 1997
New York University, Stern School of Business
Bachelor of Science, Marketing/Quantitative Analysis/December 1992
Exhibitions
2019 - Group Show, 7th Annual Art Competition, Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, IL USA
2019 - Group Show, Contemporary Sculpture: Off the Wall, Floor and Ceiling, Site: Brooklyn Gallery, Brooklyn, NY USA
2018 - Group Show, Boys Will Be Boys, Whitdel Arts, Detroit, MI USA
2018 - Group Show, Pride and Prejudice-Gender Realities in the 21st Century, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL. USA
2018 - Block 37, Masters Thesis Presentation, Chicago, IL. USA
Awards and Honors
2018 - Judges Award, Pride and Prejudice-Gender Realities in the 21st Century, ARC Gallery, Chicago, IL. USA
2018 - Judges Award, Masters Thesis Presentation Block 37 Chicago, IL. USA
Work Experience
College of DuPage/Glen Ellyn, IL
8/20-Present Assistant Professor
8/19-12/19 Adjunct Faculty
Academy of Art University/San Francisco CA
6/2016-8/20 Part Time Faculty - Online Fashion Design
On a semester by semester basis teach online fashion design classes from freshman Bachelors level to Masters level during Fall, Spring and Summer semesters; teach online fashion design classes for the High School Art experience program.
1/2011-5/2016 Full Time Faculty - Online Fashion Design
Within an 18 hour weekly teaching commitment taught online fashion design classes from freshman Bachelors level to Masters level during Fall, Spring and Summer semesters; on a semester by semester basis taught onsite freshman level fashion design classes (Bachelor and Masters level); prepared weekly lecture material for design classes; provided weekly feedback for student assignments and projects in design classes; developed course material and managed builds of freshman level fashion design online classes; served on academic committees; conducted Midpoint and Final Portfolio reviews; participated in the development of annual graduate fashion shows; miscellaneous administrative duties.
Marwen/Chicago, IL
5/19-11/19 Teaching Artist
Conducted a month long fashion portfolio workshop for Chicago high school students; developed weekly class plans; delivered lectures and conducted demonstrations to promote fashion design conceptual and technical skill building; worked closely with students to develop concept sketchbooks reflecting the student’s design point of view; demonstrated how to extract design ideas from concept sketchbooks; provided instruction on how to present design ideas in a portfolio ready and professional manner.
BCBG Max Azria/Vernon, CA
1/07-8/07 Concept Designer – BCBG Sportswear
Created one-of-a-kind garments and seasonal inspiration material used to develop the BCBG Sportswear line; under the direction of the Creative Director sketched and developed Sportswear pieces in all fabrication and product categories; developed Moodboards by delivery to communicate mood/silhouette/embellishment ideas; worked with the Creative Director to develop color stories by delivery; researched fabric and embellishment ideas and worked with overseas agents/factories and the in-house fabric research team to develop those ideas.
3/05-12/06 Associate Designer – Max Azria Collection
Assisted Head Designer in sketching garment ideas in all fabrications and product categories for the Max Azria Runway collection; researched and developed embroideries, fabric manipulations and garment treatments used on runway samples; provided guidance to patternmakers, sewers, technical designers and beaders in developing 1st and production samples; visited and corresponded with oversees factories/agents in Hong Kong to ensure timely and proper execution of embroidery, fabric manipulations and garment developments; traveled to NYC each season to work with stylists and models to prepare for the runway presentation of the line.
Laundry By Shelli Segal/Commerce, CA
10/04-3/05 Associate Sportswear Designer
Assisted VP of Design in sketching garment ideas by delivery date and developed embroidery and fabric manipulation concepts; created design cards to document garment details and initiate first sample and tech pack development; sketched flats; researched market trends; worked with local and NYC trim/embroidery vendors; communicated with oversees factories/agents to ensure proper execution of showroom/production garments; worked closely with patternmakers, sewers, technical designers and beaders to develop sample garments.
Sharon Wauchob/Paris, France
3/02-6/02 Design Intern
Aided in the conception and construction of garments designed by Sharon Wauchob in preparation for her Paris Fashion Show; general office duties
Tom Van Lingen/Paris, France
2/02-3/02 Design Intern
Aided in the construction of garments designed by Tom Van Lingen in preparation for his Paris Fashion Show.