GLENDALE, CA.- The Museum of Neon Art announced it has acquired Leticia Maldonado’s The Doll (2022). The artwork was created for the artist’s solo museum debut, The Storytellers at the Museum of Neon Art in 2022. In this exhibition Maldonado mined her biography to offer various perspectives on loss through sculptural installations. The acquisition was made possible in partnership with Bermudez Projects gallery, and several museum supporters who contributed towards a fund to bring work by Maldonado into the museum collection.

“The Museum of Neon Art’s acquisition of my artwork, The Doll, is a dream come true.” says Leticia Maldonado, “I was inspired to make this work by a Raggedy Ann doll my mother made for me when I was three. Having learned to sew from her mother, she used that power to make a friend and a bright spot of reality for me. I share the honor of this moment with the creative women in my family who taught young children agency through craft and imagination. Thank you to all of the people who were instrumental in facilitating this acquisition.” For the past 13 years, Leticia Maldonado has honed a unique approach to artmaking which marries an interest in multimedia, as well as her skill at bending intricate, three-dimensional forms out of neon glass. “Leticia Maldonado’s art is emblematic of the dynamic work being produced in neon today, as well as the vibrancy of this artform which has been passed down for the past 100 years.” states MONA Executive Director Corrie Siegel. ”Leticia is an incredibly accomplished neon bender, as well as a fascinating artist invested in pushing the limits of her practice.”

Leticia Maldonado (b. 1980) was born in West Covina, California and raised in Las Vegas, Nevada. She grew up surrounded by the bright, eye-catching signs atop famous casinos such as The Dunes, The Tropicana, The Flamingo, and The Stardust. Maldonado spent time at The Art Institute of Las Vegas, pursuing an education in figurative illustration and sequential storytelling, and later studied at the Los Angeles Academy of Figurative Art. Moving into illuminated glass as a medium, Maldonado found her way to Lili Lakich’s neon design and fabrication classes, and later studied glass bending and processing with the artist Michael Flechtner. "Leticia Maldonado is an artist who is consistently challenging herself to master new techniques while pushing the boundaries of the medium of neon and multimedia approaches. Her work paves the way for new possibilities and the next generation of neon artistry. We are delighted to have her work represented in our collection" States MONA Executive Director Corrie Siegel

Maldonado has achieved critical acclaim for her groundbreaking sculptures and installations. Her work has been included in group shows throughout the U.S. and internationally. She’s been featured in Vice TV; reviewed by Artillery Magazine; was the subject of the award-winning documentary film, Las Vegas Bender; and was profiled by PARQ Magazine. Maldonado’s work has been included in the 2023 SUR Biennial at the Torrance Art Museum, The Nicolaysen Art Museum in Wyoming, Museo de Art Carrillo Gil in Mexico City, and Museo de las Artes in Guadalajara, Mexico. Maldonado’s works are included in the permanent collections of The Neon Museum, Las Vegas; and, now, the Museum of Neon Art (MONA). The artist lives and works in Los Angeles. Julian Bermudez, Owner and Director of Bermudez Projects, who has represented Maldonado, says “Leticia’s art is magic, and stands out for its imagination and honesty. It's sublime in execution and universally accessible. MONA’s acquisition allows her work to be experienced and celebrated by an even wider audience now, and for generations to come.”