An artist originally from Guam recently received a huge honor celebrating her creative talents. Vanessa Judicpa Toves’s artwork was showcased at the Expo Metro component of Miami Beach’s prestigious Art Deco Weekend, which was held from January 18 to 19.
Highlighting the Celebration
Toves’s creations were displayed on car train number one alongside a distinctive collection of works completed by nearly 240 artists from almost 40 countries and territories. The exhibition, which was a part of the 48th Annual Art Deco Weekend, also commemorated the Art Deco Centennial (1925-2025).
Bringing Honor to Guam
Toves’s achievement is a high point for Guam’s artistic community. She is among the first creators from the Pacific Island to partake in Expo Metro, which is considered the world’s largest international billboard art exhibition.
“I wondered if there was anyone else from Guam that’s done this before,” she said. “I checked their website for past exhibits, and no one has, or maybe they live in another country. I said okay, I guess I’ll be the guinea pig for this.”
Quickly Establishing Herself
It may be difficult to believe, but Toves is a relative novice in the visual arts discipline. Her journey began a mere seven months ago. Despite her rookie status, the artist has quickly established herself through the medium of charcoal drawings. Her featured works include a collection of portraits. Among these sketches is one of her husband on their wedding day, which she labels as her favorite design.
“I’m drawn to portraiture because there’s no better place that conveys emotions than your face,” Toves said. “When I observe other artists’ work, I try to understand what emotion is conveyed in that piece and what it’s trying to convey to me.”
Influenced by Her Upbringing
Toves was raised in an artistic household. Her mother created oil paintings during the 1970s. These works inspired Toves to pursue her own artistic journey, which began while she resided in the San Francisco Bay region for more than a decade. Before finding her niche in the visual arts, Toves enjoyed success as a creative writer, having two poems published.
“I was seeking something therapeutic,” Toves said. “People do exercise. I go for walks with my husband but I wanted to find a solo thing. I tried my hand at art, and it just took off from there.”
The Expo Metro Exhibition
The aforementioned exhibition has also taken place in notable locations such as New York City, Paris, Amsterdam, and Milan, and it has gained a reputation for offering artists individual platforms to showcase their creations. The interactive gathering features QR codes enabling viewers to contact artists directly and visit their websites.
Toves said that this year’s participants received several perks including a certificate of their featured works, an ArtQuid account geared toward helping artists sell their work to collectors, and the chance to have their billboard art auctioned as non-fungible tokens.
Not Her Primary Job
Despite her talent and growing list of accomplishments, Toves has another full-time job as a contractor. That said, she considers art to be therapy and hopes her involvement will inspire other creators to pursue similar opportunities.
“Don’t compare yourself with other people’s work,” she cautions aspiring artists. “Art is subjective. What may appeal to one may not appeal to another. If you touch even one person with your art, you’ve done your part in sharing art.”
The Art Deco Weekend Festival
The gathering is organized by the Miami Design Preservation League and typically attracts more than 50,000 visitors. It also features a plethora of other events.
“It was comforting to be around very established artists,” Toves said. “And you have this network that you develop with other people and there are benefits to participating in this co-creation of collective artwork.”
Future Plans
When asked to peek into her future, Toves offered thoughtful insights.
“I kind of like to go with the flow,” she said. “If I make it where it becomes like a test or a job, then I got into it for the wrong reasons. I have to remember what drew me to it in this first place.”