This article is part of our series PR pa'l Mundo, a bridge of stories, ideas and opinions that shed light on what Puerto Ricans in the diaspora are doing, from every corner of the world.
May is a great time to be in New York City. There's art, spring, good weather and events featuring some of the top international names.
And this past May, art week arrived with the 11th edition of NADA New York, the flagship fair of the New Art Dealers Alliance.
From May 7 to 11, 2025, the The Starrett-Lehigh building in Chelsea became a hub of contemporary art, bringing together 120 galleries, art spaces and nonprofit organizations from 19 countries and 50 cities around the world.
🌎🎨 Art at scale: From Brussels to Shanghai, Berlin to Mexico City, diversity was front and center in an edition that included 65 NADA members and 54 first-time exhibitors.
Among this international constellation of talent, one Puerto Rican stood out. Joshua Nazario Lugo presented a solo show under the representation of Embajada, one of the participating galleries.
His contemporary work, vibrant and eye-catching, made a strong impression in the heart of Manhattan, contrasting with and complementing the work of exhibitors from countries including Japan and Argentina.
Joshua is a 24-year-old born and raised in Sabana Grande. His artistic work grows out of his curiosities and interests, including sports and cars, elements he combines with memories of growing up in Puerto Rico. He uses materials such as wood, cement and textiles to produce his work.
On the fair's first day, Joshua's work drew attention, so much so that ArtNews, a prominent art magazine, selected his space as one of the five best booths at the fair.
With that Ferrari F40, the wall of basketball team jerseys and the chest holding championship rings, Joshua showed us his world, full of meaning and Puerto Rican identity.
During the last days of March I was able to visit the artist during his residency and see his work firsthand. It was made with industrial materials such as wood and cement, and depicts race cars, a rooster, a cockfighting arena, symbols of Puerto Rican sports.
Jerseys from basketball teams in both the Baloncesto Nacional and the NBA. In his work as an artist, Joshua told me that…
Being from Puerto Rico, I like to capture those experiences… I like to mix my life experiences with my interests, and one of them is sports.
– Joshua Nazario Lugo
He actually compares his practice as an artist to that of an athlete: resilience and a lot of discipline.
My approach to art is like that of an athlete
– Joshua Nazario Lugo
The booth at Embajada was never empty, and the truth is that Joshua's work stood out from a distance. That's how Puerto Ricans are. We bring color and a certain something to the playing field that is hard to overlook.
Display of Joshua Nazario Lugo's artwork during the 11th edition of NADA New York, the flagship fair of the New Art Dealers Alliance. Photo: Daliana Alvarado.
We tend to think that what is ours, or what defines us, doesn't translate, but reality says otherwise. His approach to art as an athlete is an inspiration. To prepare our bodies and minds like athletes, with focus, discipline and a lot of sweat. That will be the only way to accomplish everything we set out to do, and knock it out of the park.
The author is a Puerto Rican creative, communicator, cultural manager and co-creator of the cultural blog Sabor Coco.
This content was translated with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
