Skinchangers: Begotten of My Flesh - Paperback

by Rubén U. Rodríguez Montoya (Author), Lauren Leving (Editor)

Skinchangers: Begotten of my Flesh is the exhibition catalog that accompanies Rubén Ulises Rodríguez Montoya's first solo museum exhibition, which took place at the Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland (moCa). Skinchangers weaves the story of a vampire forced to reconstitute its body from space debris following the destruction of the last spaceship leaving an apocalypse-ravaged Earth. Sculpted from detritus and discarded materials scavenged from the US-Mexico border, Rodríguez Montoya's artworks are shape-shifting creatures that feed off each other. Rooted in speculative fiction, this exhibition explores how violence erases and eradicates communities of color.

The publication, exhibition, and related programming are part of Toby's Prize, biannual artist award sponsored by Toby Devan Lewis (1934-2022). The exhibition was curated by Lauren Leving and was on view at moCa from June 28 through December 29, 2024.