Esperanza Cortés’ NYSCA artist research fellowship at the Hispanic Society Museum & Library focused on researching textiles, paintings, sculptures, furniture, and metalworks produced in Spain and Latin America. Mantillas from Spain and their connected histories to the Philippines and China and the Trajes de Luces worn by bullfighters were the first catalysts for her project.

Embroidered Allegories is a multidisciplinary visual arts project pointing to the migration of people, culture, traditions, materials, techniques, and designs. The work is also imbued by the balletic power and ferocity of the bullfighters’ movements and the intricate beauty of the suit of lights (Traje De Luces) worn by Bullfighters. The maternal side of Esperanza’s family have been bullfighters in Colombia for generations, including two generations of female Toreras.

Esperanza has created 20 works including painted mixed media reliefs, works on paper, sculptures and installations .

Esperanza Cortés is a Colombian born multidisciplinary artist raised in NYC. Exhibition venues include: Albright-Knox Gallery, NY, Ogden Contemporary Arts, UT, The Current, VT, Turchin Center for The Visual Arts, NC, Corcoran Gallery of Art, DC, Smack Mellon Gallery, Elizabeth Foundation Project Space, Wave Hill, Bronx Museum, Queens Museum, Museo del Barrio, Carla Stellweg Gallery, Artist Space, MoMA PS1, Socrates Sculpture Park, Taller Puertorriqueño, PA, Neuberger Museum of Art, NY, Mexic Arte Museum, TX and Cleveland Art Museum, OH. International exhibitions include: Germany, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Japan, Spain, Greece, Mexico, Colombia, and Dominican Republic, in venues including Thessaloniki Center of Contemporary Art, Greece.

Cortés awards include: Guggenheim Fellowship, New York State Council on the Arts Grant, Creative Capital shortlist, Hispanic Society Museum and Library Artist Research Fellowship, City Artist Corps Grant, Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters and Sculptors Award, BRIC Media Arts Fellowship, LMCC Grant, Puffin Foundation Grant, Visionary Award, Issac H Tuttle Fund, Mott Foundation Grant, Hyam Salomon Foundation Award, New York State Biennial, NYFA and Sustained Achievement in the Visual Arts Award.