The Artnauts artist collective was founded in 1996 by Dr. George Rivera, Professor of Art in the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Colorado-Boulder. The collective uses the arts as a tool for addressing global issues while connecting artists from around the world. The group has exhibited work in museum, university, gallery and public spaces on four continents and has captured the attention of art critics both in the United States and internationally.
The work of the collective is rooted in an engaged practice that draws from Joseph Beuys’ construct of “social sculpture,” Paulo Freire’s “conscientization” or critical consciousness and Nina Felshin’s definition of “activist art.” The collective has worked at the intersection of critical consciousness and contemporary artistic practice to impact change for almost two decades. The collective started with George Rivera and four other founding members (Garrison Roots, Dennis Dalton, Luis Valdovino, and Beth Krensky).
Interview with Dr. George Rivera
This interview is about Artnauts, its origins and last 20 years of engagement around the world in places of contention. Dr. Rivera is one of the collectives founders, principal curators and participating artists.
GLOBALOCATIONAL ART:
THE ARTNAUTS IN PALESTINE
Book by George Rivera and Beth Krensky
“Reading this book, one learns good information and touches profound details about varieties of oppression (and) one can also discover creative ways for resistance and peaceful struggles.” - Faten Nastas Mitwasi, Chairperson, Visual Arts Department, Dar al-Kalima University College of Arts and Culture 
“Artnaut works of art travel as emissaries of hope and good will, balancing the harrowing implications of expulsions, flight, and displacement.” - Linda Weintraub, Curator, Educator, Artist, and Author
Artnauts 20th Anniversary at Redline
Readline Gallery, Denver, Colorado, Nov.11-12th, 2016
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