Demi (born 1955) also known as Demi Rodríguez, is a Cuban-born American visual artist, known for her paintings of children.[1][2] She lives in Miami, Florida.[3][4]
Biography
She was born on October 6, 1955, in Camagüey, Camagüey Province, Cuba.[5] Demi is not her name from birth, however she primarily uses the mononym for her work.[5] When she was young her father was executed in Cuba for political reasons.[6][7] At the age of 6 she was sent to Puerto Rico to live with relatives she had not previously met.[5][7] In 1971, Demi moved to Florida to join her family.[7]
In her early career she worked as a bookkeeper.[8] In 1984, Demi married artist Arturo Rodríguez, whom she had met in 1978 at the former Meeting Point Gallery in Miami.[6][9][8] Demi started painting in 1984 by learning from Arturo, and she began exhibiting her art in 1987.[1][5][6] Her art primarily focuses on the portraits of children, often shown in situations that are trapping.[10] She uses her practice to raise awareness for children’s rights.[7][8]