Bezazian Branch hosts a Hispanic Heritage Month art exhibit featuring the work of local artist Karina Gomez.
Pieces from Gomez’s collection will be on display from September 8 through October 31.
Artist Statement
My paintings are a reflection of my childhood memories, traditions and everyday life in Mexico and reflect the experiences of my life in Chicago. I consider myself a folk, self-taught artist. I really enjoy the freedom and relaxation that painting provides and therefore I do not follow any art rules. My work has a cartoonish look with a lot of strong primary colors and bold borders. My paintings are mostly acrylics on canvas with pasted rhinestones, but I am also working on a small mixed media art journal.
I also paint a lot of the day of the death imagery. Not only because I love the tradition of honoring your family and ancestors, but also because I lived during my whole childhood in front of a cemetery. Therefore the Day of the Dead brings back memories of flowers, music, vendors, food, toys, family and my first home.
Painting is close to my heart because it is a family tradition; my father, brother and sister also paint. I believe that art is a very personal form of expression and self-discovery, where the main and most important audience is the artist herself/himself. To me, art is not a contest but a journey that must be enjoyed.
