About El Cuarto del Quenepón
A Window into Puerto Rican Contemporary Culture
Since 2001, El Cuarto del Quenepón has served as a vital platform for Puerto Rican contemporary culture. From our home in San Juan, we have chronicled the vibrant creative expressions of the island—celebrating visual artists, poets, novelists, and musicians who shape and define what it means to be Puerto Rican in the modern world.
Our Name
“El Cuarto del Quenepón” translates roughly to “The Room of the Big Quenepa.” The quenepa (also called Spanish lime or mamoncillo) is a beloved tropical fruit native to Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. With its thin green skin and sweet, tangy flesh clinging to a large seed, the quenepa represents everything we love about Caribbean culture: vibrant, unpretentious, deeply rooted, and shared among community.
Our “cuarto”—our room, our space—is a gathering place where these cultural fruits are cultivated, shared, and celebrated.
Our Mission
We exist to document, celebrate, and amplify Puerto Rican creative expression. Our pages serve as:
- A record of contemporary artistic achievement across visual arts, literature, and music
- A bridge connecting artists on the island with the diaspora and the wider world
- A platform for emerging voices alongside established creators
- An archive preserving cultural moments for future generations
Our History
El Cuarto del Quenepón was founded in 2001 by a small collective of artists, writers, and cultural workers in Santurce, San Juan. What began as a photocopied zine passed hand-to-hand at gallery openings and poetry readings grew into a respected publication reaching readers across Puerto Rico, the mainland United States, and beyond.
Through economic challenges, hurricanes, and the constant evolution of media, we have maintained our commitment to thoughtful, in-depth cultural coverage. Our digital archive—the Biblioteca Virtual—preserves over two decades of writing, interviews, and critical essays.
What We Cover
Visual Arts
From the galleries of Old San Juan to street art in Santurce, from installations at major museums to work emerging from small community spaces, we cover the full spectrum of Puerto Rican visual expression. Our arts coverage includes artist profiles, exhibition reviews, critical essays, and visual portfolios.
Literature
Puerto Rican literature occupies a unique space—written in Spanish, English, and increasingly in a fluid combination of both. We feature poetry, fiction excerpts, essays, and criticism. We track publishing trends, interview authors, and maintain a comprehensive review section.
Music
Puerto Rico’s musical contributions—from bomba and plena to salsa, reggaeton, and contemporary experimental work—receive extensive coverage. We profile artists, review albums, explore musical history, and examine the cultural significance of Puerto Rican sound.
Our Contributors
El Cuarto del Quenepón brings together a network of writers, critics, photographers, and cultural commentators. Our contributors include:
- Art critics and curators
- Poets and fiction writers
- Musicologists and music journalists
- Academics specializing in Caribbean studies
- Photographers documenting cultural life
- Artists writing about their own practices
Editorial Approach
We believe in deep, thoughtful cultural coverage. Our articles go beyond surface descriptions to explore context, meaning, and significance. We take time with our subjects, preferring extended profiles and essays over quick takes.
Our perspective is proudly Puerto Rican while remaining engaged with global conversations about art, identity, and culture. We recognize that Puerto Rican creativity exists within complex political, economic, and social contexts, and our coverage reflects this awareness.
Contact Us
We welcome submissions from writers, artists, and photographers engaged with Puerto Rican culture. We also welcome letters from readers, tips on emerging artists, and suggestions for coverage.
Contact our editorial team to submit work, pitch stories, or connect with us.
El Cuarto del Quenepón is based in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Our digital archive is accessible worldwide.