Pandemics: Illustrations of a Survivor

By Edwin Villasmil

Experience the implications of pandemics on humanity through the unique perspective of Edwin Villasmil, a 73-year-old Venezuelan-American artist and survivor of the coronavirus. Since the outbreak of the pandemic, Villasmil has dedicated himself to researching and creating drawings and texts that explore the impact of pandemics on humanity. For more information, please contact the branch at 305-553-1134 or gonzalezja@mdpls.org. All ages.

This exhibition invites the public to view pandemics through a different lens, connecting the visual arts to literature and creating an innovative experience for the community. 

Each work of art in the exhibition is composed of a drawing made in 2020 using ink on paper and accompanying text. The title of each work is the name of a literary work, serving as a tribute to different writers quoted in the artworks. 

Edwin Villasmil uses his art as a path to communicate, to stimulate dialogue, to educate, and to contribute to social transformation. Born in Venezuela, Villasmil is an artist and environmental educator whose work often expresses the positive-negative set of figures on black backgrounds, with added color in recent works. His art explores the relationships between man and contemporary society, with a particular focus on technology and its impact on nature. Since 2004, Villasmil has lived in Miami, where he has developed a deep appreciation for the fragile ecosystem of the Everglades. 

He began his artistic career in theater and painting, studying at Universidad Pedagogica between 1965 and 1989. In 1972, he moved to the United States and lived in New York and Washington, D.C., studying graphic arts, sculpture, jazz and theater. In 1975, upon his return to Venezuela, he founded Espacios Culturales and became a teacher. In 1979, he undertook a trip for observations and study through Europe and North Africa. When he returned home, he moved from the city to the country, where he developed a series of environmental projects.  

In 1998, he received his Bachelors of Arts from the University Fermin Toro in Venezuela. In 2002, he participated in the Antoni Gaudi International Festival in Barcelona, Spain. In recent years, he has investigated the relationship between art, society, and nature. During his career, he has been honored with important awards and acknowledgements, his art works are exhibited in museums, and are in private and public collections, including the Miami-Dade Public Library System’s Permanent Art Collection. In the past, he has been president of the Venezuelan Association of Artists of the Plastic Arts. 

To view more of Edwin Villasmil’s digitized artwork, you can visit the library’s Digital Collection at MDPLS.org. 

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