Ernesto Beckford
(Chadds Ford, PA)
www.ErnestoCollage.com

Smallpox Blankets, Mixed Media collage (paper, pastels, watercolor, rope), 10" x 8.5" x 0.5"
Native Americans lacked immunity to European diseases, particularly smallpox. White Americans and colonizers used blankets laced with smallpox to harm Native populations. This collage symbolizes their suffering, with threads and feathers representing smallpox scars and broken promises.

Ernesto Beckford is drawn to the medium of collage for its power to disrupt conventional narratives, blending fragmented elements to create a provocative and cohesive whole. His work delves into themes of sexual identity, ethnic diversity, and the unconventional, reflecting the complex intersections that have shaped his life. Born and raised in Buenos Aires, he grew up amidst a rich tapestry of Latin American culture. During Argentina's military dictatorship, his family fled to America, where he not only embraced the country's diversity but also celebrated it, finding the freedom to explore his sexual identity. His art challenges traditional notions by intertwining the personal and the political, fusing motifs from both his Argentine roots and the diverse cultures he encountered in America. His work stands as a testament to the fluidity of human identity, offering a lens into the multifaceted experiences of those who exist outside conventional definitions.