Charlottesville–The Virginia Center for the Book at Virginia Humanities is pleased to announce the 2022 Frank Riccio Artist-in-Residence: Puerto Rican poet, book artist, and small-press publisher Nicole Delgado.
This year, Delgado received the Riccio Residency, which is bestowed on illustrators, printers, or book artists dedicated to creating community and promoting vibrancy in the book arts, for her contributions in publishing and printing. Through her studio La Impresora, which she founded in 2016 and co-directs with colleague Amanda Hernández, Delgado amplifies the works of BIPOC artists and creates a community around literature and independent books across Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. With a heavy focus on contemporary literature that strengthens the link between written and visual arts, Delgado’s La Impresora engages new readers by publishing affordable, beautifully crafted handmade books.
In addition to her work in publishing, Delgado is also a renowned poet. She is widely regarded as one of the leading Puerto Rican writers of her generation. Delgado continues to use her success to bring together artists, activists, and writers from across the Americas.
From March 22-26, Delgado will headline a series of events that will include two public programs including a Bilingual Poetry Reading (March 24) and an Artist’s Talk (March 26) showcasing current La Impresora titles along with a preview of a special Riccio Residency project. Virginia Humanities’ Center of the Book will be cohosting this series in partnership with the University of Virginia Department of Spanish, Italian, & Portuguese to celebrate Delgado’s work and share it with audiences throughout Virginia. Complete details of our public events are available at VaBookCenter.org/events.
The Riccio Residency was made possible by the Joseph and Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation and by donations from the Book Arts community of the Virginia Center for the Book. The Riccio Artist-in-Residence receives a stipend, travel, and lodging to engage local youth, members, and friends of the Virginia Center for the Book community around a creative project. The application process for 2023 will be announced later this fall.
