STATEMENT
My current work is based on my personal outdoor experiences started at the Chilean Patagonia forests and continued in many others around the world, which are considered a sacred symbol in many different forms and cultures, being my passion the forms and colors of their vegetation. Through oil painting, I pretend to express in some way the spiritual quality of this untouched places; places that are loaded with energy and beauty.
I start from images and memories allowing myself to freely evolve from figurative forms to almost abstract compositions. I make decisions moved by the expression of my every day feelings and thoughts, so at the end I am building a body of work that starts from a few images and/or memories but are influenced by other events that appear on different canvases in the form of a particular palette, brushstroke, or sometimes the kind of line or atmosphere.
In this process, I am in search of many subjective effects like peace and excitement. But the thing I look for the most is the ephemerality of nature, idea I am always exploring through the use of layers, passages of light, drops and patches, making it about the landscape and also about the painting itself.
I am working with different formats, giving to the square ones special attention. Squares have allowed me to have some symmetry and balance in a world of messiness and chaotic organic shapes. Without totally giving up on rectangles, I am working on many small, medium and big squares. Big format paintings are usually formed by 4 or 9 smaller canvasses, which allow me to play with the perception of the final piece as something divided, pointing out each detail, forcing the spectator to come closer and experience the abstraction of figurative forms details.
I have a big range of referents, being Hockney a special one for the use of color, lines and divisions. But I also feel profoundly inspired for the atmospheric paintings of Peter Doig and Mark Rothko, as well as the brushstroke of Joan Mitchel and Clyfford Still, among others.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Born in Johannesburg, South Africa
Chilean Nationality
Lives in San Francisco, California
Studio Artist at Root Division
EDUCATION
2012 Bachelor in High School Pedagogy at the University of Los Andes, through the Vocation Professor Scholarship program given by MINEDUC.
2008 - 2011 Degree in Visual Arts at Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile with two votes of distinction.
Further Education
2019 Attendance to course "The Structured Accident" by Allison Miller at San Francisco Art Institute.
2019 Attendance to course "Pics or it didn’t happen” by Alex Arzt at San Francisco Art Institute
2015 Certificate of attendance to the course "Conceptual tools that enhance the intervention of the Family School", Universidad de Los Andes.
2013 Certificate of Attendance to the “Introduction to the History of Art” course at Central Saint Martin`s College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts London, UK.
2013 Certificate of Attendance to “Drawing London on Location” course at Central Saint Martin`s College of Arts and Design, University of the Arts London, UK.
SELECTED GROUP AND SOLO EXHIBITIONS
Solo Exhibitions
2019 Solo Exhibition at Frank Ratchye Studio Artist Project Space, curated by Alicia McDaniel, Root Division, San Francisco, CA.
2017 Después de la Lluvia, Teatro de Zapallar, Zapallar, Chile.
2017 Naturaleza Progresiva, Centro Cívico de Vitacura, Santiago, Chile.
Group Exhibitions
2020 Reflexions on Exile, curated by Jaenette Alanis, Root Division, San Francisco, CA.
2019 RD Makes curated by Samantha Reynolds, Root Division, San Francisco, CA.
2019 Scintilla Art Box Project, curated by Sarah E. Swist, Hastings College, Hastings, NE.
2019 LA Artcore 5th Annual Juried Exhibit, The Brewery, Los Angeles, CA
2019 SNAP!, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA, United States. Awarded as one of the ten works with highest combined juror points.
2018 6x6 Be There Be Square, Las Laguna Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA, United States.
2017 Artistas emergentes, MasDeco Market, Santiago, Chile.
2016 Aniversario Artes y Sabores, Santiago, Chile.
2011 Identidad Nacional, Duoc UC, Santiago, Chile.
Commissions
2016 Salón Inmobiliario Fair. Realization of a mural invited by La Tercera and CCHC, Parque Titanium.
2010-2018 Private Commissions.
Awards
2019, Selected as a SNAP! PICKS
Ten works that receive the highest combined juror points.
Snap!, Arc Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Teaching and Workshops
2019-2020 Oil Painting 101 Teacher , Root Division, San Francisco, CA.
2017- 2018 Art Teacher at Colegio Huelén, Santiago, Chile.
2017 Art Workshop for PK, Colegio Huelén, Santiago, Chile.
2017 Drawing Workshop for High School, Villa María Academy, Santiago, Chile.
2014 - 2016 Art Teacher at Centro Educacional San Esteban Mártir, Santiago, Chile.
2014 - 2017 Oil Painting Teacher, Private group classes, Santiago, Chile.