Amanda Raquel Dorval
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I am interested in the intersections between Puerto Rico and the Muslim World. I explore the legacy of Islam on Puerto Rican, Nuyorican, and Taíno visual culture by reconsidering the dimensions of the islands' indigeneity and repercussions of colonialism.
My work explores larger themes of colonialism, identity, reconnection to indigenous Taíno ancestry, and cultural exchange as a result of the intermixing of different groups of people. My practice combines costume making, embroidery, beadwork, photography, painting, and photo collage in order to reimagine the meaning and nuances of Puerto Rican and Nuyorican identity.
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Amanda Raquel Dorval (b. 1987), originally from Queens, NYC, is a Nuyorican-Dominican artist, library professional, Middle Eastern Studies scholar, and anti-war veteran who served seven years in the US Air Force as an Arabic linguist. She has a BA in art history from Barnard College of Columbia University. In May 2022, Amanda received her first master's degree in Library and Information Science from Long Island University with a concentration in Archives Management, Rare Books and Special Collections. In May 2024, she earned her second master's degree in Near Eastern Studies from New York University, with a thesis that explored the cross-cultural influences of the Islamic World within Puerto Rican visual culture. Amanda currently works as Curatorial Associate in the Exhibitions Department of the New York Public Library, Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. Formerly, she was the Bibliographer of Indigenous American art at The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s Watson Library from 2021 to 2022. She was a 2022-2023 Research Fellow at the Hispanic Society Museum & Library, and also has library/archive experience at the American Museum of Natural History, World Monuments Fund, Brooklyn Museum, Jewish Museum, and Wildenstein Plattner Institute. As an artist, Amanda receives inspiration from her cultural heritage and military experiences. She is interested in the exploration of traditional and popular Puerto Rican, Nuyorican, and Taíno heritage and culture through use of photography, photo collage, sewing, beadwork, painting, embroidery, weaving, crafting, and costume design.
She is also currently pursuing a third master's degree, a low-residency program in Fine Arts at the Institute of American Indian Arts based in Santa Fe, NM.
Featured Artwork
![Amanda Raquel Dorval performs in costume. "This costume diverges from the traditional vejigante silhouette, by turning it into an urban streetwear look you might see someone wearing on the street in New York City. It includes a floor-length blue kimono made from raw silk matka over a red cotton jersey sweatsuit. The sweatshirt features a Puerto Rican flag above the Arabic word for “my love,” habibi (حبيبي). The mask is an interpretation of Guabancex, the Taíno deity of chaos and hurricanes, and features a long ponytail made of black wool. [Dorval] performs a series of chaotic gestures in four poses, wildly flailing her arms, legs, and head. These movements are meant to evoke the spirit of Guabancex, who was often depicted in ancient Taíno idols with one arm up and one arm down to evoke the wind pattern of hurricanes."](https://centropr.hunter.cuny.edu/app/uploads/2023/02/DorvalAmanda_Habibi-Guabancex-dance_2023-300x225.jpg)
