With work in two simultaneous exhibitions at BIMA, Roberto Benavidez is a sculptor specializing in the piñata form. Commissioned by Cynthia Sears, his Illuminated Passport is part of Crossing the Line: The Passport Re-Imagined, and his piñatas are featured in our annual Día de Los Muertos exhibition. In this Curated Conversation, Roberto will cover his career trajectory and share how he came to piñatas as an artistic medium. The piñata craft has been moving between borders for centuries. Although people in the U.S. identify the piñata as distinctly Mexican, it also has roots in China, Spain, and Italy. In conversation with BIMA’s Education lead, Jenna d’Anna, he will discuss his Illuminated Passport and how it follows the historical path of the piñata in whimsical and playful ways. Woven into his work are subtle references to sin, sexuality, and icons from each country that contributed to the piñata’s evolution. The mashup of the medieval aesthetic with piñata materials is intended to reflect and celebrate his mixed-race background and the piñata’s multicultural history. Opening reception at 6pm and audience Q&A to follow the presentation.

Guest Bio

Roberto Benavidez (b. 1973, Beeville, TX), known for his piñata-based artworks, lives and works in the Los Angeles, CA neighborhood of El Sereno. His sculptures have been featured in national, international, and online publications including ARTnews, Artsy, Atlas Obscura, The Guardian, hifructose.com, Hyperallergic, LUXE Interiors + Design, Politiken, The New York Times and This Is Colossal. Benavidez has shown in group and solo exhibitions, including at the AD&A Museum at UCSB, Craft In America, Mingei International Museum, Palo Alto Art Center, Self Help Graphics, Mesa Contemporary Art Museum, and Riverside Art Museum. LA Metro commissioned him to contribute to the “Through the Eyes of Artists” poster series (2019); his Bosch fruit fascinators are featured in the finale of The Interview with the Vampire series on AMC+; and his work was featured in the 2024 spring issue of American Craft Magazine. He has works in the collection of LA Metro and The Museum of International Folk Art in Santa Fe, NM. He is featured in the “Play” episode of Craft In America (PBS) and is the subject of a documentary short directed by Tom Maroney titled Piñatas of Earthly Delights. Roberto was most recently profiled by The New York Times in their series, The Art of Craft.

Roberto Benavidez, “Illuminated Passport”, 2024, goatskin parchment, glue, crepe paper, ink, 5″h x 3.5″w x 1.5”d (closed), 5″h x 10″w x 10″d (open)
Illuminated Hybrid No. 4, 2019, paper, paperboard, glue, wire, crepe paper, 12″h x 10″w x 5”d
Unique, Commissioned by Cynthia Sears Artists’ Books Collection, photo by Laura Zander