Conversation with the Artist: Pepón Osorio and Magda Martinez

Join us for a conversation between artist Pepón Osorio and Magda Martinez, poet and veteran Philadelphia non-profit leader, in conjunction with the premier of Osorio’s immersive installation, Convalescence.

Convalescence is rooted in Osorio’s personal experience of cancer diagnosis and treatment. The project highlights systemic health and health care inequities in the U.S. and includes stories from other Philadelphians who have lived through, or are currently experiencing, life-threatening illnesses. Drawing on relationships with groups typically underserved by the health care system, Osorio’s installation explores the nature of community-based care.

Convalescence is free and open to all from September 3 to November 1, 2024, at 901 Walnut Street.

Pepón Osorio is known for his provocative, large-scale, multimedia installations that merge conceptual art and community dynamics. Osorio has worked with over 25
communities across the United States and internationally, creating installations based on their real-life experiences. His work has been presented at the Whitney Museum of American Art; El Museo del Barrio; New Museum; Smithsonian American Art Museum; El Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico; and El Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico, among others. He is the recipient of various distinctions including a John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation Fellowship, the Skowhegan Medal for Sculpture, The Herb Alpert Award in the Arts, and a Pew Center for Arts & Heritage Fellowship.

Magda Martinez is the chief operating officer of the Welcoming Center in Philadelphia. She is a veteran non-profit leader who has served the Mural Arts Program, Fleisher Art Memorial, the Philadelphia Cultural Fund, The Colored Girls Museum, Pennsylvania Humanities Council, the Boys and Girls Club of America, Taller Puertorriqueño and currently serves on the board of Puentes de Salud. She is a founding member of Las Gallas, a Philadelphia based artist collective that toured nationally and internationally.

Jefferson students may count this event for credit towards the Asano Humanities & Health Certificate.

Learn more: Jefferson.edu/Convalescence

Major support for Convalescence has been provided by The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage, with additional support from the Wagner Foundation, the Mellon Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Arts.

Questions? Contact Kirsten Bowen, Humanities Program
Coordinator, [email protected].

Image: Pepón Osorio, detail of Convalescence, 2021-24, mixed media installation. Courtesy of the artist and P·P·O·W, New York. Photo by Sam Fritch.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Atrium, Jefferson Alumni Hall, 1020 Locust Street, Philadelphia, United States