Jose Vazquez

A self-described artisan, José was born in México and has resided in Charlotte, NC since 1996. Writes poetry and short stories and practices photography. He also creates visual art –sculptures and paintings– mostly with found and upcycled materials. He believes that things, just like people, deserve a second chance. In 2208 he won first prize at NPR’S WFAE 90.7 contest RADIOVISION with his photograph My Cup of Coffee, which was used to promote the radio station during the year 2009 (printed on posters, coffee mugs and tote bags). In 2012 founded the poetry group ArteSanos de la Palabra. With them he co-wrote and published the book The Fragrance of Water in 2014. In 2015 funded the poetry trio Voz ES (which dissolved after the passing of one of its members in 2018). In 2017 cofounded MAS+ arte, a group with members from Argentina, El Salvador, México, Colombia and Venezuela; aimed to help artists promote their art in Charlotte. In this same year he participated in WordFest, a three-day poetry festival in Asheville, NC sponsored in part by the Lenoir-Rhyne University. In 2018 José published his first book of poetry and photography titled Icarus Flies by Night and in 2021 released ESCONDIDA poemas breves para Virginia his second one.

His paintings and photographs have been on display at various galleries, museums and Universities such as Johnson & Whales University, Johnson C. Smith University (The tree of Life Reading), University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC), Queens university, Lenoir-Rhyne University (poetry reading and workshop), The Levine Museum of the new South, The Mint Museum (in both of its branches: Uptown and Randolph Rd), Nine Eighteen Nine Gallery and The McColl Center. Also, at The Levine Museum of The New South besides reading his poetry there he has participated a number of times creating Altars for The Day of The Dead (Día de Muertos) Celebration, to promote and preserve this ancient Mexican tradition. At these events he won first place twice, second place twice and two honorary mentions.

On September 2022 the VAPA Center featured his exhibition Found in The Translation -Visualizing The Music of Bill Laswell, the second half of the gallery at this exhibition included a retrospective of his work with paintings, drawings, sculptures, photographs and poems from previous exhibitions and lectures. Also, at The VAPA Center, on September 2023 he showed matriarcas the portraits (a preview for his upcoming book matriarcas) and on August 2024 WINGS (a collection of photographs of birds, bugs and cemetery sculptures of angels.

José also hosts the trimestral event Vino & Poesía (Poetry & Wine), to promote the work of local poets in both English and Spanish. This event includes a segment of open mic where the audience has the opportunity to read their own or favorite poems. With his organization jgv Writers Alianza Vázquez intends to help local writers with the process of writing, editing and publish their books. He also hosts Readers Alianza a monthly book club aimed to promote the reading of classic books -mostly philosophy and poetry. He’s currently working on two books, the first one is the previously mentioned; matriarcas and the second one -still untitled- is a collection of some of his visual art (drawings, paintings and photographs) and writings (essays and poems) of his introspective meditations and thoughts influenced by his studies on religion and philosophy.