"This grant helped me keep doing what I love."

The Cultural Council of Palm Beach County named West Palm Beach artist Hegina Rodrigues as recipient of the Dina Baker Fund for Mature Female Artists.

Rodrigues is a self-taught artist whose work has developed over decades, particularly from her travels. Not limited to two dimensions, she creates work with found objects into assemblage. Her process commingles with the art classes she teaches to children and adults around the world, including the Council’s Arts in My Backyard Afterschool program. 

"I am honored and grateful to receive this award," said Rodrigues. “Painting is my passion, so receiving this grant reassured me to keep doing what I love most. I am grateful to Dina Baker for bringing awareness to mature women artists like me, and the Cultural Council for opening doors through this grant and the opportunity to showcase my work.”

Thanks to the generosity of local artist and longtime Council supporter Dina Baker, the Dina Baker Fund for Mature Female Artists grants $10,000 annually to a female artist age 60 or older with financial need and recognizable merit. The artist may use funds for professional development, arts-related exhibitions, equipment and supplies, healthcare costs or basic living expenses. Each award recipient is also granted a solo exhibition in the Cultural Council’s gallery.

Rodrigues’ solo exhibition in April 2019, “From One to Another”, was a retrospective on her path to abstraction—beginning with framed figures on canvas before evolving into a detonation of form and color on a loose, tapestry-like display.

Visit palmbeachculture.com/exhibitions for more information.