Graciela Ovejero is a versatile visual artist and writer that produces work in different mediums including painting, photography, video, performances and installations. Born in San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina, she obtained her Master of Fine Arts at the University of California in San Diego (U.S.) and her Licenciatura en Artes Plásticas at Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. She also holds a degree as Professor in Classical Dances from Argentina and participated in experimental theater workshops. Before immigrating to the U.S. she worked as a professional solo dancer at the Ballet Estable of Tucumán, independent choreographer and professor of dance.

In 1986 she established residency in the United States. She has participated in numerous group exhibits since 1976, 27 solo shows and major installations in museums and galleries since 1983 in Argentina, Mexico, the United States, Spain and Japan. She is founder-owner of ArtOrchardä/ artorchard.com, site currently under-construction.

Her work operates in the intersection between performance and the visual arts, as a spiritual and cultural praxis immersed in the crossroads of diverse histories and mixed traditions.

2003/2004 “Souvenir of Tucumán …” sixth version, Workshop and Tapestry of Memories Exhibition in collaboration with Pakistani artist and docent Farida Sieda Batool and Daskat, Women Refuge. Lahore, Pakistan.

2002 Artist Talks and Presentations on the theme of Historical and Personal Memory and Artistic Creation along with itinerant project Souvenir of Tucumán-Nomadic Anthology of Objects in the city of Hiroshima, Japan. Kyu Nichi Gin Historical Building, Hiroshima Seishonen Centre, Hiroshima International Culture and Research Association, Hiroshima Kokusai Gakuin University and Hiroshima University.

2001 Keynote presenter. WELL / Women Educators and Language Learners annual retreat. Saitama, Japan.

1999 Invited Panelist. III Encuentro de Mujeres de Iberoamerica en
las Artes Escénicas – XIV Festival Iberoamericano de Teatro de Cádiz, Spain. “Beyond Self-Portrait – The Body as a Discursive Instrument”.

1998 Conception y Direction of special Workshops: Museum of Contemporary Art of San Diego, Museum of Contemporary Art of Los Angeles, U.S.A.

1997 / 2007 Artistic creation, Curation and Production of the itinerant project of installations Souvenir of Tucumán – Nomadic Anthology of Objets Conceived as Installation Art, with the contribution of 90 invited artists.

1993 / 1996 Teaching Assistant at the University of California in San Diego.

1991 / 1993 Member of LAS COMADRES, collective of women artists, writers, video-makers and activists of multicultural origins, that worked in the border region of San Diego USA / Tijuana México.

1990 / 1991 Member of BAW/TAF (Border Arts Workshop/ Taller de Arte Fronterizo), active interdisciplinary and multicultural group of national and international trajectory (Venice Bienale, Istanbul Biennial, projects in Australia), operating in the San Diego/USA - Tijuana/México border region.

1989 / 1998 Member of the Arts Advisory Committee at Centro Cultural de la Raza. San Diego, CA. USA.

1983 / 1985 Co-founder Member of CRÓNICA, interdisciplinary and experimental group of four artists (installations and performances), in Tucumán, Argentina.

1977 / 1979 Co-founder Director of Alrededor del Movimiento. Experimental dance-theater group associated with Teatro Universitario de Tucumán, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Argentina.

1972 / 1985 Dancer and Soloist of Ballet Estable de Tucumán. Tucumán, Argentina.

Awards and Commissions:

2000 Ken Branson, private commission for itinerant show in Hiroshima Japan.
1997 Ken Branson, private commission for itinerant show with 89 artists.
1995 Russell Foundation Grant, University of California in San Diego. USA.
1994/92/90 Installation Gallery & Centro Cultural de la Raza, San Diego USA.
1990 Commission for Arts and Culture of San Diego, USA.
1989 Ecological Life System Institute & Centro Cultural de la Raza, San Diego USA.
1988 National Endowment for the Arts, San Diego USA.
1988 Sushi Gallery & Performance Art, San Diego USA.
1985 National Award/Premio Mención del Jurado (Pintura). Concurso Nacional Homenaje al día Internacional de la Paz/International day of Peace. Centro Cultural Recoleta and Municipality of Buenos Aires, Argentina.
1984 Jury’s Award/Premio Mención del Jurado (Pintura). Salón Spilimbergo, Facultad de Artes, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Argentina.
1983 Jury’s Award/Premio Mención del Jurado (Grabado). Salón Primavera, Peña El Cardón. San Miguel de Tucumán. Argentina.

Solo Shows and Major Installations:
2002 Kyu Nichi Gin Building, Hiroshima, Japan.
2001 CECUT. Tijuana, Baja California, México.
2001 Universidad Computense de Valencia. Valencia, Spain.
2001 U.C. Davis. Davis, CA, USA.
2001 International Woman’s Center. Saitama, Japan.
2000 MACLA. San José, CA. USA.
1999 The Latino Museum of History, Art and Culture. Los Angeles, CA. USA.
1999 el Quetzal . sala – taller. Tucumán, Argentina.
1998 Casa Club, Architects Professional Association. Tucumán, Argentina.
1997 La Zona Cultural Center. Tucumán, Argentina.
1996 Sushi Performance and Visual Arts & el campo Ruse. At el campo Ruse, San Diego.
1994 Centro Cultural de la Raza. San Diego, California. USA.
1992 Sushi Gallery, San Diego, California. USA.
1992 Centro Cultural de la Raza, San Diego, California. USA.
1992 Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes Emilio Caraffa, Córdoba,
Argentina.
1992 Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes, Tucumán, Argentina.
1991 Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes, Tucumán, Argentina.
1991 Centro Cultural de la Raza, San Diego, California. USA.
1990 Installation Gallery , San Diego, California. USA.
1990 Centro Cultural de la Raza, San Diego, California. USA.
1989 Installation Gallery, San Diego, California. USA.
1989 Centro Cultural de la Raza, San Diego, California. USA.
1988 Centro Cultural de la Raza, San Diego, California. USA.
1988 Balboa Theater, San Diego, California. USA.
1987 Quel Fromage, San Diego, California. USA.
1986 The Pannikin, La Jolla, California. USA.
1985 Casa de la Cultura de la Municipalidad de Tucumán, Argentina.
1985 Galería del Banco Cooperativo , Tucumán, Argentina.
1984 Museo Provincial de Bellas Artes, Tucumán, Argentina.

Numerous Group and Collective Exhibits
in institutions such as:

Vorpal Gallery. San Francisco, CA. USA.
MACLA. San José, CA. USA
The Latino Museum of History, Art and Culture, Los Angeles, CA USA.
San Diego Museum of Contemporary Art. USA.
Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma, Washington.
San José Museum of Art, San José, CA. USA.
Museo provincial de Bellas Artes Emilio Caraffa, Córdoba. Argentina.
Museo Provincial Timoteo Navarro. Tucumán, Argentina.
Intersection Gallery. San Diego, CA. USA.
Faculty Club, University of California in San Diego. USA.
Installation Gallery, San Diego, CA. USA.
Centro Cultural de la Raza, San Diego, USA.
Universidad de California en San Diego. USA.
The Lab Gallery, San Francisco, CA. USA.
Tempe Art Center, Tempe Arizona. USA.
San Diego Art Institute. CA. USA.
Centro Cultural de Tijuana, México.
Scottsdale Center for the Arts, State University of New York, Purchase NY.
The Peanut Gallery, San Diego CA. USA.
The Bridge Gallery, El Paso, Texas. USA.
Galería de la Ciudad, Tijuana. México.
Balboa Theater, San Diego CA. USA.
Sushi Gallery, San Diego CA. USA.
Centro Cultural Eugenio Virla, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Argentina.
Casa de la Cultura de la Municipalidad de Tucumán. Argentina.
Galería del Banco Cooperativo. Tucumán, Argentina.
Peña El Cardón. Tucumán, Argentina.
Centro Cultural La Recoleta, Bs. As. Argentina.