Benedicto Figueroa
Dance translation by Eriel Santagado
Benedicto Figueroa is a self taught writer, actor, poet, visual artist, and stage performer. In 2012 Figueroa was named Poet Laureate of Union City, NJ. They have toured with the performance poetry group The Mayhem Poets, have written and starred in the stage play SickLove for No Peeking Theatre, and have been published in Instigatorzine, Lamplighter Magazine, Jersey City Independent, the anthology Solo Para Locos, Pinky Thinker Press, and was a spotlight poet for PityMlik Press. Figueroa is a member of the band Just Now Orchestra who’s debut album DOUG was released February 2020. Benedicto was also one of the 2020 Smush Gallery Summer Residency residents and recipient of the 2022 ArtHouse Cares Grant.
They were also a recipient of a Jersey City Arts and Culture Trust Fund Program Grant for 2023 which they used to fund the TEXT-FOR-POEM Project. They have headlined shows at The Howl Festival, Bowery Poetry Club, The William Carlos Williams Foundation and led workshops and classes at Pace University, Rutgers University, William Paterson University, New Jersey City University, and University of New Mexico. Their illustrated zine “When a Great Darkness Meets an Extraordinary Light” was published in 2021 and their visual artwork has been shown at Index Art Center, SMUSH Gallery, and Gallery Aferro. Their immersive poetry installation “Are You There?” an event supported by Art House Cares, a grant program by Art House Productions in Jersey City opened November 4 at SMUSH Gallery where Figueroa was named Co-Artistic Director in 2021. Benedicto was also featured in “Make Me Wanna Holler '' Poem Booth Exhibition at Gallery Aferro.
