bio

Graciela Socorro was born in Ames, Iowa. She is an American-Venezuelan multi-disciplinary artist based in Houston, TX. Her work has been featured in numerous exhibitions across Texas: Lawndale Art Center, Houston Center for Contemporary Craft, Arts Fort Worth, and internationally, including Museo de Arte Contemporáneo del Zulia, Venezuela.

Graciela got her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at La Universidad del Zulia, Venezuela. Later on, she began exploring photography and mixed media. For Graciela, these moments are magical. This inspiration aroused her interest in conducting various studies; following patterns, colors, shapes, and textures. She works across mediums—clay, acrylics, wood, and photography—drawing inspiration from her emotions and surroundings.

Even though Graciela comes from an engineering background, art has always been a part of her life. She grew up witnessing her mother’s artistic journey unfold, never imagining that her mother would later become her mentor. Graciela’s work is known for the colorful and meticulous geometric array of layers of elements defined by life changing circumstances, such as relocation and migration. Her multicolor study is a promise of joy, celebration and a journey of unlayering and self-discovery.

Another huge source of inspiration is her husband, Carlos Ocando, who is also a photographer. His creativity and dedication inspires her every day. Additionally, she had the privilege of learning from Albert Frangieh, who taught her the importance of aesthetics in fine art photography and instilled in her the value of continuing learning.

In 2014 she moved to Houston with her husband Carlos Ocando and their Maltese Ms. Brandy. Since then, they have been working as artists in this beautiful city. She collaborates closely with her husband in their studio, Light42Studio, focusing on fine art portraits and art documentation.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Graciela’s work is known for her colorful and dynamic geometric array of layers of elements inspired by the natural world. Her multicolor study is a promise of joy, movement, celebration, and a journey of un-layering and self-discovery. Is an ongoing conversation with herself. It's about exploring the many layers of her inner world—the thoughts, emotions, and experiences that makes her who she is. Each artwork is a way for Graciela to process and reflect on those layers, sometimes consciously and sometimes through more intuitive or subconscious means.

AWARDS

2024 | Nominee 17th Annual International Color Awards juried competition. Beverly Hills, CA.

2023 | Honorable Mention 16th Annual International Color Awards juried competition. Beverly Hills, CA.

2022 | Nominee 15th Annual International Color Awards juried competition. Beverly Hills, CA.

2021 | Nominee 14th Annual International Color Awards juried competition. Beverly Hills, CA.

2016 | Honorable Mention. ipa ~ int'l photography awards ~ Family of Man juried competition. New York, NY.

2016 | Winner, Category 0-5 years of experience at “Texas Biggest Ten for Art” juried exhibition. Katy Contemporary Arts Museum - KCAM. Katy, TX.

2011 | Honorable Mention. ipa ~ int'l photography awards. New York, NY.  

2011 | Official selection & 1st. Place in “People ́s Choice”. Prix de la Photographie - PX3.  Paris, France. 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023 | “Borges and Texas”. ALMAAHH and Casa Cultural de las Americas. Houston, TX.

2023 | “Art as Human Value”. BAG Art Gallery in aid of redM. Houston, TX.

2022 | “5th Annual small works Show”, presented by Art Room at Arts Fort Worth, Texas.

2021 | Lawndale Art Center. “The Big Show” annual juried exhibition. Official selection by independent curator and art historian Cecilia Fajardo-Hill. Houston, TX. 

2019 | Latin Ladies Foundation of Houston. Silent Auction benefiting their Educational Programming. Houston, TX.

2018 | SubastArte. Auction supporting the Pediatrics Hospital Foundation. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2017 | Lawndale Art Center. Retablo Exhibition & Silent Auction “30th Dia de los Muertos”. Houston, TX. 

2017 | SubastArte.  Auction supporting the Pediatrics Hospital Foundation. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2017 | Kirksey Architecture. Art+Design month. Houston, TX. 

2016 | Lawndale Art Center.  Retablo Exhibition & Silent Auction “29th Dia de los Muertos”. Houston, TX. 

2016 | “CraftTexas Roundup". Exhibition and Silent Auction celebrating Texas craft and honorees, Michelle and Frank Hevdejs. Houston Center for Contemporary Craft - HCCC. Houston, TX. 

2016 |  Houston Center for Contemporary Craft – HCCC. “CraftTexas2016”. Official selection by juror Paul Sacaridiz, Executive Director of Haystack Mountain School of Crafts; Nicole Burisch, Core Fellow Critic-in-Residence at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Glassell School of Art; and HCCC Texas Master, Sadie Zilker, Department Chair of Jewelry and Enamel and Three-Dimensional Design at MFAH Glassell School of Art. Houston, TX. 

2016 | SubastArte. Auction supporting the Pediatrics Hospital Foundation. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2016 | Katy Contemporary Art Museum. “Texas Biggest Ten for Art”. Category Winner by juror Andrés Bardon, Founder/Editor/Director of The Pictorial Bardon Group, Arte Arteclásica Contemporánea and Museum Magazine; Patricia Covo Johnson, Art Critic and Curator; Ken General, Creative Director of Arts+Culture Magazine, Founder of Duende Art Project and Gallery Manager of BLUEorange Contemporary. Katy, TX.

2016 | Collective Perceptions. Juried exhibition on Silver Street Studios by artist Gordon Phillipson. Houston, TX. 

2016|  Houston Symphony Ball, Auction benefiting the Houston Symphony's Education and Community Programming. Houston, TX.

2016 |  The Assistance League of Houston. “Celebrates Texas Art 2016” Official selection by juror Brady Roberts, Chief Curator of Milwaukee Art Museum. Houston, TX.

2015 | Deck the Walls, Annual group exhibition at Catherine Couturier Gallery. Houston, TX. 

2015 | Lawndale Art Center. Retablo Exhibition & Silent Auction “28th Dia de los Muertos”. Houston, TX. 

2015 | Latin Ladies Foundation of Houston, Silent Auction benefiting their Educational Programming. Houston, TX.

2015|  “New Texas Talent XXII”, Craighead Green Gallery, Dallas, TX. Official selection by jurors Terri Provencal, Publisher & Editor in Chief of Patron Magazine and Barry Whistler, Founder & Director of Barry Whistler Gallery, Dallas, TX.

2015| Lawndale Art Center. “The Big Show” annual juried exhibition. Official selection by juror George Scheer, Executive Director & Co-Founder, Elsewhere, Greensboro, NC. Houston, TX. 

2015 | “SubastArte”, Auction supporting the Pediatrics Hospital Foundation. Maracaibo, Venezuela. 

2015| The Assistance League of Houston. “Celebrates Texas Art 2015” Official selection by juror Dean Sobel, Director of Clyfford Still Museum, Denver, CO.  Houston, TX

2015| Visual Arts Alliance. “7th Invitational Exhibition” juried exhibition at Avis Frank Gallery. Official selection by David Hardecker, Founder & Director of Avis Frank Gallery. Houston, TX.

2014 | Lawndale Art Center. Retablo Exhibition & Silent Auction “27th Dia de los Muertos”. Houston, TX. 

2014| Visual Art Alliance.  “32nd Juried Membership Exhibition”. Official selection by juror Dennis Nance, Exhibition and Programming Director of Lawndale Art Center. Houston, TX.

2014|  Katy Contemporary Art Museum - KCAM. “Wanted: Wildlife”, Official selection by juror Ana Villaronga, Founder & Director of KCAM. Katy, TX.

2014| “6 Profiles. Individual Collective”. Art collective at Club Náutico. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2013| FIAAM - Maracaibo International Art and Antiques Fair. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2013| “Fragments of Time”. Art collective at Club Náutico. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2013| “SubastArte”. Exhibition and Auction supporting the Fundación del Hospital de Especialidades Pediátricas. Maracaibo, Venezuela. (Graciela Socorro ́s piece got the Second highest bid).

2013| "Imaginary II”. Exhibition supporting the Pediatrics Hospital Foundation. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2012| Museo Contemporáneo del Zulia- MACZUL. “8th. Young Artists Regional Saloon”. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2012| “SubastArte”. Exhibition and auction supporting the Fundación del Hospital de Especialidades Pediátricas. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2012| “Imaginary I”. Exhibition supporting the Fundación del Hospital de Especialidades Pediátricas. Maracaibo, Venezuela.

2011| “Fragments of Time I”. Art collective at Club Náutico. Maracaibo, Venezuela. 

2010| Museo Contemporáneo del Zulia- MACZUL. “6th. Young Artists Regional Saloon”. Exhibition and official selection by jurors. Maracaibo, Venezuela.