Bio:
Cuca Refugia was born on 8/8/85, with art flowing through her veins. Her father and her mother’s mother were both artists who had passed on their gifts to her. This gift manifested itself the first time Cuca was able to hold a pencil.
Drawing was a joy, something to pass the time with. On regular walks with her older brothers, Cuca was introduced to graffiti. Writing your name on walls was considered normal and expected. In elementary school, the other children took notice of her talents. Soon thereafter, she was busy at work drawing for all 50 of the kids on the bus. At 9 years old, Cuca bought her first comic book on a trip to the comic book store with her father. This newfound inspiration would last all throughout her school years. Although drawing took a backseat during high school (much in part to the endless requests for drawings), Cuca expanded her artistic talents with technical theater doing hair and make-up for school plays.
It’s was at 18 when Dirk Vermin, of local Las Vegas punk act The Vermin, encouraged Cuca to display in his Gallery Au Go-Go that she began to experiment with oils and acrylics. That was the start to all of the beautifully sad girls she would produce for our eyes to feast on. From then on it was a whirlwind of displaying in galleries, filling commissions, and gaining respect for her work.
The subjects of Cuca’s work have always been females expressing commonly deemed “female emotions”. Cuca feels the female form is more dynamic both physically and emotionally. If you want a muscular woman, you can paint her so. If you want a curvy woman, you can paint her that way. The same is not always true of the male form. People are not accustomed to seeing men cry. Plus, she loves their hair.
On 4/4/10, Cuca’s sweeter half was born (8/8- 4/4). He has filled her life with light and changed her perspective on the world. Today Cuca is powered with a new breath and is coming back to her craft renewed. Her goal is no longer to create art for the art world. She wants to paint for the people. No longer will she make a painting exclusive to a gallery. She wants her longtime fans to view it first. High priced originals will make way for high quality affordable prints and clothing. This is her new era, and she wants you to be a part of it.
-Michelle Franco
Exhibitions:
Tattoos and Trash-Gallery Au Go-Go Las Vegas, NV 2004
Mondo Erotica -Gallery Au Go-Go Las Vegas, NV 3/2005
Gallery Au Go-Go “Must be Destroyed” Las Vegas, NV 11/2005
Atomic City Tattoo Las Vegas,NV 2005-2006
The Big Deflowering Show- Against The Wall Studios Las Vegas,NV 5/2006
The Halloween Show-Against The Wall Studios Las Vegas,NV 10/2006
Happenstance Translations-The Epicenter Las Vegas,NV 10/2006
Luff Conquers All (Solo)-MTZC Studios Las Vegas,NV 6/2007
Definitions & Misunderstandings- The Epicenter Las Vegas,NV 7/6/2007
State of The Art-Cafe Hookah Lounge Las Vegas,NV 7/7/2007
For The Love of…-Fort Cheyenne Events Center Las Vegas,NV 8/24/2007
SneakerPimps with Official K Swiss Footwear-Pool Trade show at The Las Vegas Convention Center 8/27-8/29/2007
Vinyl Wednesdays-Tao Venetian Hotel and Casino Las Vegas,NV 8/2007
Ningyoo House-The Epicenter Las Vegas,NV 9/7/2007
Circus Punks-GoRilla Gallery Orange County, CA 10/13/2007
Las Vegas Renaissance-The Epicenter Las Vegas,NV 12/07/2007
The Beautiful Death of Me with Dasha Biggs-The Arts Factory 1/2008
Common Ground-The Bunkhouse Las Vegas,NV 3/2008
A Better Tomorrow-Space Gallery San Francisco, CA 3/22/2008
Fixed 100-Alpha Cult Long Beach, CA 4/12/2008
State of The Art-The Box Office Las Vegas,NV 4/19/2008
April’s Academy-L’Keg Gallery Los Angeles,CA 4/4/2009
1st Annual College Art Scene Festival-CSN Las Vegas,NV 4/24/2009
Triq Nightclub-Planet Hollywood Las Vegas,NV 6/7/2008
The Payback (Solo)-Cloth and Canvas Las Vegas,NV 7/11/2008
Death Cheater benefit for Benny Diar-Sara Jane & CO Sacramento,CA 7/19/2008
State of The Art 2nd yr Anniversary-The Box Office Las Vegas,NV 8/28/2008
Art Bar Las Vegas,NV 8/11/2008
Urban Legends-Alpha Cult Long Beach,CA 9/2008
Caustic Cinema-The Box Office Las Vegas,NV 10/5/2008
Survival of The Fittest-Biggs Studio Las Vegas,NV 2/06/2009
Common Ground-The Bunkhouse Las Vegas,NV 2/2009
Eat More Art out-Meltdown Gallery Los Angeles,CA 2/28/2009
Ignorance is Bliss (Solo)-Biggs Studio Las Vegas,NV 7/3/2009
Organized Chaos-Alley Kat Jazz San Bernardino,CA 10/17/2009
Without A Ruler- Place Gallery Las Vegas NV 2/05/2010
Callejeros-Smoking Mirrors Gallery Los Angeles,CA 3/13/2010
The Beginning of The End-Lower Haters Gallery San Francisco,CA 5/14/2010
The Juggernaut-Fistful of Deuces Las Vegas,NV 5/27/2011
Common Ground-Waste Your Life Be An Artist Las Vegas,NV 2/03/2012
Waste Your Life Be an Artist- 7/2012 TBA
Press:
Catapult Art Mag - April 2012
Juxtapoz Magazine- April 18, 2010
Juxtapoz Magazine - November 11, 2010
Juxtapoz Magazine- April/May/June/July, 2010
Lowrider Arte Magazine - July 2010
Label 228 - September 2009
Clout Graffiti Magazine
Racket Magazine - July 2007
944 - June 2007
