Miami-born, Cuban American multidisciplinary artist Nicole Salcedo’s, Earth Gate, is rooted in the spiritual and architectural traditions found in the Caribbean diaspora. The installation features an anthropomorphic gate, intricately carved to represent a face, which is the artist’s interpretation of the spirit of nature. The features on the figure invite closer engagement, with each section of the gate sharing a symmetry that is meant to depict the role of renewal and connection to the natural world.

Adorning the sides of the gate are motifs of vegetation and flora frequently seen throughout the Caribbean. These motifs reflect the relationship between the organic materials and the historically designed wrought iron gates that are fixtures of the region and South Florida. As viewers walk through the gate, they are transported through a symbolic portal – an invitation to reflect on the sacredness of place and the interconnectedness of all life. Earth Gate encourages a moment of pause, offering viewers an opportunity to meditate on their relationship with nature as they move through the space.

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About the artist

Nicole Salcedo holds a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where she studied fibers, performance and object design, with drawing as her main practice. Using meditative marks to create dense patterns, she weaves between micro and macro lines, opening rhythmic pathways that connect deeply with the energies flowing throughout the universe. Salcedo is currently a studio resident at the Bakehouse Art Complex in Miami, Florida.

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