Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel De Urioste.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I taught myself how to draw by tracing Garfield comics as a little kid. I started creating original work in my own style at 12 and made surrealistic black and white ink drawings for years. In college, I experimented with alternative process photography and printmaking, which grew into a passion for process-based art. I love to learn new skills and test the boundaries of materials. I do a lot of sculpture now, and the fabrication work I do relies on a wide range of knowledge I’ve picked up through years of experimenting.
Please tell us about your art.
In my artwork, I seek to rekindle the childhood experience of stumbling upon something for the first time and wanting more. I’m interested in what happens in that moment of hesitation–when a person pauses to lean closer, hoping for a small glimpse into another world. Making these creatures is a practice grounded in empathy. I don’t picture them in a vacuum; they exist within a fully formed world, complete with desires and fears. A lot of my work is small, so you have to get close and really investigate them to see everything.
Given everything that is going on in the world today, do you think the role of artists has changed? How do local, national or international events and issues affect your art?
We’re always responding to the world around us. Art doesn’t exist in a vacuum. That being said, we all engage with things differently, and part of what makes art beautiful is the myriad forms those perspectives can take. My work is fantastical but grounded in feeling. Relational issues are more important than ever. I’m interested in how people relate to each other and the concept of “other.” I cultivate emotion in the worlds my creatures inhabit because empathy must be seen and practiced over and over in order to grow.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
The best way to hear about upcoming events is through my website and Instagram (goldfishunderwater.com + @goldfishunderwater). I also have an online shop, take commissions and work collaboratively with other artists and fabrication studios. Have a project idea or just want to say hi? I’d love to hear from you! People can reach me at goldfishunderwater@gmail.com or through the contact page on my website.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.goldfishunderwater.com
- Email: goldfishunderwater@gmail.com
- Instagram: @goldfishunderwater
- Facebook: facebook.com/rachel.deurioste
Image Credit:
Rachel De Urioste
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