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2018 ARTISTS-IN-RESIDENCE

Roberto Rovira

  • Is a landscape architect and professor and former chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture + Environmental and Urban Design at Florida International University in Miami, Florida.

  • Additionally, Rovira is principal of the interdisciplinary design firm Studio Roberto Rovira.

  • He has a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Cornell University and a master’s degree in landscape architecture from Rhode Island School of Design.

  • Rovira has lived in Latin America, Europe, and Japan and is a former U. S. Naval Officer.

  • He combines his knowledge of landscape architecture, engineering, technology, and fine art to work at various scales and collaborate with interdisciplinary practitioners, community, municipal and government organizations. Roberto's work explores the intersection of technology and living systems through projects like the Ecological Atlas, and the potential of landscape architecture to play a pivotal role in envisioning and shaping public space.

  •  He has been lead designer in projects in the U. S., Latin America, and the Middle East, and his work ranges from installations to urban projects. Princeton Architectural Press, Routledge/Taylor-Francis, HarperCollins, Landscape Architecture Magazine, ACSA and others have published his work and has been recognized nationally and internationally as an educator and professional.

  • Most recently, the Architectural League recognized him as one of eight 2015 Emerging Voices - one of the most coveted awards in North American Architecture which spotlights individuals and rooms based in the U. S., Canada, and Mexico with distinct design voices and the potential to influence the disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, and urbanism.

Selene Varela

is an architect from Mexico City and an Associate at Studio Roberto Rovira. She took her courses in Architecture at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and she won a one-year exchange program to study at Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Belleville.

Since 2011, Selene has gained experience by working in renowned architecture and construction rooms in Mexico City, including TRADECO Engineering and Entasis Architects. Her experience includes the development of residential, institutional and commercial projects, including a sports center and furniture design.

In 2015, Selene obtained a Master of Arts in Architecture from Florida International University, where she worked as Research Assistant.

Brennan Baxley

is an Associate at Studio Roberto Rovira with a degree from Harvard Graduate School of Design, and a professional degree from Florida International University.

 Brennan possesses educational experience in geography, adaptable spaces, architecture, art, recycled material installations, landscape urbanism, landscape ecology, community gardens and disaster management.

 In practice, Brennan has aided in the inventory of urban agriculture and projective ecologies, participated in public engagement, preservation of heritage and historic environments, and sustainable methods for residential and commercial design and planning. Brennan has a special interest in finding new ways to combine both art and form in order to create enjoyable and prolific landscape spaces.

Dan Perez

is an award-winning filmmaker & video producer based in South Florida. Born & raised in New York City (da Bronx), Dan relocated his family to South Florida in 2003. After a successful career in sales & marketing in the Catering/Special Event industry, Dan started Dan’s Video Creations in 2006 and launched Dan Perez Films in the Spring of 2008 after completing his very first documentary film, the award-winning The Motivator: The Business of Selling Hope.

Policarpo Ribeiro

Policarpo Ribeiro

Policarpo Ribeiro was born in Mogi das Cruzes, a community in São Paulo, Brazil and, for the past 30 years, Policarpo has been an active leader in the diverse arts community in Brazil as both as a social activist and visual artist. His portfolio of work involves public art, social practice and trans-national collaborations.

Policarpo is currently the Director and Chief Curator for Culturada – a Brazilian arts consulting group providing artistic services related to community and economic development in the city of Suzano - a metropolitan region in São Paulo, Brazil.

He is also a visual arts professor at Espaço Cultural Colegio Suzano (ECCOS) in Suzano, Brazil and is very proud to be serving as the Community Arts Coordinator for the City of Suzano.