BIO
Fernando Alejandro Roman is an Interdisciplinary artist who does documentary photography, drawing, painting, and poetry. Growing up between a home in North Jersey and regular trips to his Nuyorican family in NYC, he took to art as a way of cultivating a sense of place. Coming from a family with artistic sensibilities, he started drawing his surroundings early on, and later exploring fashion design as his primary hobbies and modes of expression. Fernando believes in the healing properties of art, and its power to connect us to one another, highlight the complex richness of life, and be a tool to see ourselves. Expecting to graduate in the fall of 2024, Fernando aspires to be a graduate student, educator, and represented by galleries internationally.
CV
Group Exhibitions
2024 Street Symphony: An Urban Art Exhibition, Curated by Josephine Barriero, Art150 Gallery, Jersey City, NJ
2024 “Unsettled” - Diaspora Child, Femme Curator Arts in partnership with Newark Arts, Newark, NJ
2024 Healing a Beautiful Broken Mind, Life Center Stage, Parsippany, NJ
2024 Conocimiento Experience: Conference on Student Belonging and Community Resilience, Dr. Lilian Milanés, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ
2024 Here/Now: A Juried Exhibition of Student Artwork, University Galleries, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ
2023 NUIndigo Exhibition, Femme Curator Arts, Newark, NJ
2023 The Life & Culture of Modern Day Latinidad, Juried by José Camacho, Studio Montclair Gallery, Montclair, NJ
2023 The Art of Culture Exhibition, Celebrating Cross-Cultural Perspectives and Hip Hop’s 50th Anniversary, Femme Curator Arts in partnership with Newark Arts Festival, Newark, NJ
2023 Here/Now: A Juried Exhibition of Student Artwork, University Galleries, William Paterson University
2023 Now They See Us student exhibition, University Galleries, William Paterson University
2023 Laurelwood Arboretum Community Art Show: An exhibit of nature-inspired art and photography, Wayne, NJ
2022 Garden State. Contemporary Student Landscape, William Paterson University’s first online show
2022 Here/Now: A Juried Exhibition of Student Artwork, University Galleries, William Paterson University, Best in Show Painting prize
Education
2024 BFA Art, concentration Interdisciplinary, and Art History Minor, William Paterson University
Honors and Awards
2023 Dean's List, William Paterson University
2023 Charles F. and Roberta A. Kugelmeyer Annual Scholarship for the Arts Award recipient
2022 Dean's List, William Paterson University
2022 Charles F. and Roberta A. Kugelmeyer Annual Scholarship for the Arts Award recipient
2021 Dean's List, William Paterson University
2021 Charles F. and Roberta A. Kugelmeyer Annual Scholarship for the Arts Award recipient
2016 Dale Carnegie Speaking Award, How to Win Friends and Influence People, Seminar takeaways, Dale Carnegie for Young Adults July 21, 2016
Experience
2023 Assisted in "NUYORICO PRESENTE!" exhibition presented by Nuyorico Art Club unwrapping artworks and packing merchandise as well as manning the merch table--selling t-shirts, stickers, and books. CLLCTV Gallery, Lower East Side, NY
2023 Wes Sherman Studio Assistant, Hackettstown, NJ
2022 Assisted in "Picking Up the Pieces" exhibition commemorating the 5th anniversary of Hurricane Maria. Duties consisted of keeping art studio supplies organized, assisting with designing and building a memorial installation and assisting with installing art at CLLCTV Gallery for exhibition, Lower East Side, NY
2022 Internship with installation artist, Adrian 'Viajero' Roman September-December, Brooklyn, NY
2022 Caras Lindas, built, prepared, and painted panels for Loisaida Festival, Loisaida Center, NY
2022 William Paterson University Arts Teacher Professional Development Guide. Directing cars, guiding groups through campus, and leading tours at the Ben Shahn Galleries, William Paterson University
2019 The Photocoop Photography Rental Studio, Internship. Responsible for transporting and setting up photo equipment, preparing studio rooms for events, and assisting clients. Little Falls, NJ
2019 Photographer for Ridgewood High School fashion show fundraiser, Ridgewood, NJ