Verónica Ibargüengoitia
Montrose 5101 and Montrose 5100 (installed), 2019, oil on canvas, 72 x 48”
Describe your artistic style in three words.
I work in oil in canvas and in shaped dimensional canvas
What's inspiring you right now?
I have been collecting pictures of windows from friends, artists, and anyone willing to share their view with me since Covid started. Up to now I have more than 500 images of them. I imagine the stories behind those window views. It is a way of shortening the distance between two window panes. It is about bringing people mentally together. I am inspired by their stories, by the hope that we are not alone in these uncertain times and we can still reach each other using a window view.
What do you do when you're feeling uninspired?
I usually run as a therapy and as part of my artistic process. Many compositions were done during this activity. It helps me connect to myself and connect to my art.
Without thinking too much I look for images in my visual library, I have hundreds of pictures of windows and every single one has a story, a name, a city and a country that helps to move forward. Another way to get away with those moments of procrastination Studio time is organizing my Studio, my tools, that helps to clear my mind.
Tell us something unique about your process.
In my need to expand my painting plane and make it occupy a space in the world my work acquired dimensionality in my personal space. Space of representation, real space of the canvas and the space produced by the mix of the two are a perfect dialogue between painting and sculpture but still for me they need a wall to exist.
What advice do you have for other artists?
I read this advise in a book and I share it with whoever is need of one: "Everyone is driven by their own talent, heart and instinct. Stop looking at what people are doing because then, you will lose clarity of thought. You have to own your decisions and own who you are"
Anything else you'd like to share?
Sure anyone interested in being part of my Window project is welcome to send their window view. I need part of the interior space where they are taking the picture, at least the frame of the window. A name, a city and a country. You can look at all the pictures I have received up to now in my instagram page.
Window #10, 2019, oil on canvas, 30 x 24”
Window #22, 2019, oil on canvas, 30 x 24”
Window #14, 2019, oil on canvas, 30 x 24”
Window #23, 2019, oil on canvas, 30 x 24”
Window #6, 2019, oil on canvas, 30 x 24”
Window #4, 2019, oil on canvas, 20 x 24”
Window #25, 2020, oil on shaped canvas, 19.5 x 16.5 x 6.5”
Window #26, 2020, oil on shaped canvas, 21.5 x 15.5 x 4”
Window to Good Bye, 2019, house paint on wall, 9 x 20’
Veronica Ibargüengoitia was born in Mexico City and lives in Houston. Her foundation and work as an Industrial have informed her paintings. She has exhibited nationally and internationally and received the 2020 Houston Artadia Fellows Award. Currently a Glassell School of Arts Block XX Museum of Fine Arts Houston fellow.