The June Selection: 3 Artists We Love
PATY ORTIZ
Patricia’s knowledge and experience on art psychotherapy practice in mental health has been the preliminary process leading to the creation of her work. The foundation of her oil painting aesthetic consists of grisaille and colour glazing in a contemporary realism context. Ortiz uses chiaroscuro and a strong chromatic contrast to evoke an emotional experience in the beholder.
She portrays traumas and fears as ghost-like entities that reside in our unconscious mind. Her collection presents a series of these forms as veiled, faceless figures embodying mental states of existential awe, revealing those moments of intimacy and authenticity within our mental lives. Each painting is a transformative act of recreating an experience from the past, constructing new meanings, and integrating them with her conscious self so the entity can no longer haunt and damage the present. In this evolutive self-analysis, Patricia reflects upon how we tend to know only the appearances of persons and not their inner truth. Questioning contemporary ideals of mental health and asking, who are you, when you are alone?
“In 2013, after completing her Bachelor of Arts in Art Therapy at Emmanuel College, Boston, Patricia began her career as an Art Therapist, proving to her that by engaging in the expressive arts she can safely explore memories, alleviate distress and be mindful. While living in Europe, technically, she was inspired by the drapery of the Renaissance paintings and the dramatic chiaroscuro of the Baroque, especially by old masters Titian and Peter Paul Rubens. She admires the works of Max Ernst, and contemporary artists Odd Nerdrum and Markus Akesson. Contextually she draws much inspiration from Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk's texts on trauma and the body. Patricia has participated in multiple collective exhibits in México and Barcelona, as well as individual exhibitions in Mexico and USA. Her artwork has been purchased by collectors in Mexico, Guatemala, USA, Spain and Saudi Arabia. "Inspiration to me is being open to feeling feelings. I achieve this by insight and being sober. Looking at what is happening in the world, I aspire to further integrate mental health issues today in a contemporary arts-based context."
CLAUDIA APAID
Claudia Apaid, a Haitian artist whose designs are inspired by her works of service, spirituality and nature, interweaves a variety of mixed media creations in handmade embroideries and metal works, often alongside artisans from around the globe. Apaid uses hand-stitched embroidery and techniques with sequins, crystals, glass beads, precious stones and metal to create her unique pieces. These uniquely spiritual and luxurious works are often seen and used as decorative arts initially but in time transition as mandalas when a deeper connection to the higher self occurs within the beholder.
“My journey started early on as child growing up in Haiti a country filled with culture, bright colors, magic and lush nature. As a child I was always imagining, dreaming, drawing and around textiles. My family was in the textile business, my mother was an artist who made her own clothes often taking me along letting me partake in her projects. I developed a passion for design leading me to go study Fashion Design in College in Miami.
As life evolved, I became a single mom to my daughter Isabella and wanted more purpose in my life than the fashion industry could offer me. Inspired by my daughter I started a nonprofit foundation to help orphan children In Haiti, called Sow a Seed. This endeavor brought much positivity and purpose to my life but my need to create was not fulfilled. After long days of seeing a lot of suffering, poverty and hardships with this work, I would release and turn to my art to release and heal. Art became my refuge, release and favorite form of self therapy. I realized that art was my healing modality and I wanted to explore creating art that heals to help others as well; Art with Purpose.
The concepts I learned in my own healing journey such as working with divine feminine archetypes, kundalini yoga, chakras, crystal therapy could now be applied and shared to spread knowledge and inspire others. The artworks I create are made up of a variety of mixed media using hand sewn embroideries, crystal therapy and energy healing to elevate vibrations. I often use sequins, crystals, glass beads, precious stones and up cycled metal to create these unique pieces. The works are highly vibrational charged with Reiki energy and positive intentions designed to fill one’s space with elevated frequencies. part of the profits from the artworks also go to support the foundations work helping the children of Haiti bringing it all in full for circle for me.”
EMI AVORA
Born in Athens and currently based in Singapore, Emi Avora is drawing subject matter from her everyday life in Asia as well as her Greek ancestry with a focus on the interior and still life. Her paintings are entering a dialog with modernist historical canons as well as ponder on our ambiguous relationship to colonial narratives, domesticity, exoticism and taste. Humor, curiosity and anxiety are elements that occupy her compositions. Sometimes dreamy, sometimes intense and with the use of light on the driving seat, her work allows space for invention, creating a gap between looking and making, between the real and the imaginary. Avora was trained in the UK (Oxford University and Royal Academy Schools) and she has exhibited in numerous commercial as well as public spaces including the Whitechapel gallery, London, the National Museum of Contemporary Arts, Athens and the Macedonian Museum of Contemporary Art, Thessaloniki. Her work was recently included in Be.Long.Ing, an online exhibition, organized by ilikeyourworkpodcast.com, as well as featured on online platforms yngspc and the Greek Foundation . She recently had an online exhibition at www.sidexsidecontemporary.com. She is one of the 2020 Delphian gallery open call group exhibition winners and her work featured in the last publication of Friend of the Artist (FOA) and of Create! magazine. She is currently showcasing work as part of a group show at the Alliance Francaise, Singapore.
”My recent body of work started when we relocated to Asia shortly after having my children. I am likening my current stay in Singapore to an art residency giving me a new perspective and freedom to explore new subject matter and new ways of working. Everyday observations become exaggerated through the use of color and change of scale, focusing on what surprises me or grasps my attention. Stemming from reality, observed situations are weaved into fictional compositions that allow a multitude of readings. I also find inspiration in my own heritage, literature, aspects of motherhood as well as the history of art. Because of the Covid restrictions as well as the challenge of moving to a new country I have not had the chance to show the new work in the flesh as much as I would have liked to last year. However this year I have taken part in some shows and thinks are looking much brighter. My ultimate goal is to have the opportunity to continue making my work for as long as I can!”
