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The theme for 2024’s Black History Month is “African Americans and the Arts.” This month we celebrate the vast influence African Americans have had on a variety of cultural expressions in the United States. 

At ΢��Ȧ, the Unity Center together with the Office of Alumni Relations are curating an art exhibit of works by African American ΢��Ȧ students and alumni at the Beestro.  

Julio Berroa ’21, a fine arts major, with a concentration in digital media design and photography, is among those exhibiting artwork. A self-identified Afro-Latino queer gay man, Berroa was born and raised in the Dominican Republic and has resided in Providence since 2012. 

One of his pieces is a print on a 50-inch square piece of fabric, titled “VENUS 2018.” “It’s a very vibrant, colorful work that I made while I was a student at ΢��Ȧ,” he says. “I also have a video installation in the exhibit called ‘METAWORLDS’ that incorporates the animated work I’ve done.” Berroa is also a musician, who, from time to time, incorporates his own music into his animations.

For this young man, who as a child was told that being gay was bad, making art has been a source of freedom, he says. He describes his art as an experience, a poem and a statement all at once and that his desire to become an artist began when he was just a child. 

“The Dominican Republic places a big emphasis on the fine arts and makes sure that all communities have murals,” he says, “so I always grew up surrounded by artistic influences.”

“In my art, I use everyday objects. For example, in my piece ‘VENUS 2018,’ the statue of the Greek goddess was inspired by my visits to my aunt when I lived in the Dominican Republic. I remember she had one of these statues in her garden.”&�Բ�����;

Currently, Berroa is working on a series of artistic expressions called “METACHROMATIC,” which he began when he was a student at ΢��Ȧ. 

He feels that his work is a representation of who he is and the things he stands for. “Being part of the Black History Month celebration at ΢��Ȧ is very empowering,” he says. “I feel fully seen in my identity. And as an Afro-Latino, this is a celebration for me as well.”&�Բ�����;

Also see, “Julio Berroa: Artist of Many Genres.”&�Բ�����;

View his bio and artwork on .