Constancia Gafeney, known as Connie, is a resident of Las Vegas, Nevada. She was born in Chicago and raised in Toledo, Ohio. She began drawing and sculpting in childhood. She was awarded a Childrens' Art Scholarship to study at the
renowned Toledo Museum of Art.
She received her B.A. degree from Heidelberg College in Tiffin, Ohio. She later resumed her studies in art and education through a joint program offered by The University of Toledo and the Toledo Museum of Art. Her artwork was selected for exhibit in university exhibitions.
In 1986, Connie became a widow with a teenage daughter to support. To earn a living she worked as a substitute school teacher on weekdays and on weekends as a creative arts instructor. During this most disruptive period she realized the important role that art was playing in her life. This was when she launched her professional art career.
In 1988, she collaborated with another artists to win the commission to create a six foot tall bronze and stainless steel memorial sculpture to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. In 1989, she received an Individual Artist Grant from the Ohio Arts Council/ACGT. She also worked as a design team member and project artist,
assisting over 150 community children create a permanent city park gateway sculpture. Connie also served as co-chair of Toledo's 2nd and 3rd Cultural Diversity Annual Exhibition, in which 14 ethnic groups were represented.
In 1990, her sculpture was selected to be shown in the Ohio Governor's Residence Exhibition. Other artwork was juried into the prestigious National Juried Competition of African-American Art, held in Atlanta, Georgia. She was invited to exhibit in Atlanta's Apex Museum. Later that year, Connie moved to the Atlanta area.
Connie became a resident of Las Vegas in 1993, and taught adult sculpture classes. After an unfortunate accident in 1994, she returned home to Toledo, Ohio to recover.
She eventually returned to Las Vegas, where she was awarded a grant from the Nevada Arts Council, and the commission to create a bas-relief of Sammy Davis Jr. This public sculpture was dedicated and installed in 1997. During this time, Connie
participated in the Teaching and Learning Arts Program, and was an artist instructor at the Las Vegas Indian Center.
Although Connie is a traditionally trained artist, she feels inspired by the magnificent African (Benin) bronzes and traditional Native American art. As an artist she practices her art with a passion.
Artist statement written by Las Vegas artist, Constancia Gafeney.
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