Carlos Rolon (Puerto Rican, b. 1970)
First Place, 2013
28 x 28 in
Archival pigment inks
Out of the many pieces available this year for selection through our dorm room art program ArtMate, one piece in particular caught my eye. It’s larger than some of the other pieces, it’s surrounded by, and printed in a square layout, another element of the piece which made it stand out. I stood before the piece, and hoped it would be the artwork I took home – or, in this case, to my dorm room, which has become my short-term replacement for it. By the time my ArtMate number was called up, the piece had long since already been selected–however, I was grateful to have still seen it in the first place!
Carlos Rolon’s First Place is a synchronicity of colors swirling and printed textures intermingling, a truly beautifully patterned piece. The color palette is inviting, bright, and surprising all at once, with bold contrasts and pastel hues coexisting alongside one another. The design appears almost reflected over itself, a repeated pattern reminiscent of intricate wallpaper, but a closer look will reveal slight variations in color and content throughout the four corners. The piece is rich with layered elements, overlapping each other and almost in conversation. Undefinable, flowery forms coalesce effortlessly into circles, curves, and beams of light. The geometric arrangements frame the center of the piece, a glitter-patterned red star beaming outward. Upon a first glance, its many shapes are layered in such a manner that the piece could almost feel three-dimensional; it’s no surprise, then, that the piece feels rather reminiscent of home decor patterning, as it creates a space in its own right. Energetically, the piece felt like a realization to me, a burst of spirituality and creativity blending into an outburst.
The artist of the piece, Carlos Rolon, was born in 1970 to a Puerto Rican family. His background has influenced his creative explorations intensely. His works speak to a number of themes, including identity, spirituality, and beauty. First Place was purchased in 2021 with funds from donors during the ArtMate GiveCampus Campaign.
As one of the pieces in the ArtMate program, First Place will live for a year in the dorm room of one of the 115 students lucky enough to participate. Though I was too late to select it, I’m equally as excited about the piece I ended up with, DENIAL’s Corporate Sludge (Blue).
Last year, gallery intern Sarah Willoughby had this piece, and wrote about the significance of it in her room – I’m excited to continue the ArtMate tradition.
-Courtney Lassiter ‘27