Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Rivera.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
My story as an artist begins with the worst thing that ever happened to me. My father passed away in 2009. I was 18. My life changed forever that day. He jumped off the freeway and left a suicide note. Everything that happened after that was a blur, like a nightmare or a horror movie. Nothing made sense and I just remember crying over my dad’s dead body at the funeral, not wanting to let go. First, I tried to suppress the feelings that came with his death. Then I would randomly break down. Then I found art.
In 2010, I started painting. The feeling I got every time I painted was different than anything I had experienced. It was as if I left the earth and took a break. I didn’t want to talk about the things I was going through. I had also just got out of a very toxic relationship so I didn’t have many friends. Painting was my only friend. It didn’t ask me any questions. It just let me be and consoled me whenever I needed it. That’s how I became an artist.
In 2012, I decided to transfer to USC where I received a bachelors in Fine Art. I started taking art more seriously and started having shown. I’ve pretty much been on the move ever since. I recognize how art was able to heal me and I believe my mission as an artist is to expose people to creativity as a form of self-care, an outlet. In 2016, I started a kid’s art program called Artsy Kidss. The program provides after school classes as well as community events and workshops. We partner with schools and different organizations to bring these classes to kids, most times at no cost. I believe it’s important to expose people to self-care at an early age. That’s exactly what we’re doing. It’s been incredible to see the impact art has created in these kids through our program. It took years for me to find purpose in my father’s death. Now I see that his death was my birth as an artist.
Please tell us about your art.
It’s always hard for me to categorize my work because I make so many different things. My backgrounds are usually abstract. They’re dreamy and always filled with color. That’s how I express my emotions, through color. It’s my most vulnerable space. Sometimes I add female figures to my pieces. The pose of the figure is very important because it tells a story. All of my figure paintings are a moment we’ve all felt through our human experience. Most times, I’m talking about a form of love, whether that’s romantic or of self. These are usually my large-scale paintings.
I also create small ink drawings. I love my ink drawings. I feel like my activist side comes out in these because they always have a message directed towards a form of oppression. These pieces are a bit abstract but don’t contain backgrounds. My large-scale colorful paintings are how I express my Self and these small ink drawings is how I use my voice for the people.
Overall my message as an artist is to embrace vulnerability. To use art as an outlet to release all emotions. I think the reason most people have a hard time getting out of depression is because they don’t have any way to release those emotions. It’s hard to dig deep within yourself and face those traumas that we would rather not deal with, but eventually we have to. They’ll find their way out and it will either have a positive or negative impact in your physical reality. My art is me transforming my demons into something beautiful.
What do you think is the biggest challenge facing artists today?
That’s overwhelming lol. I think the biggest challenge is the lack of support from the government. There’s so much money they should and probably could be putting into the arts. I used to think it was all on the gallery and museums. Now I see there’s so many other ways to be an artist outside of being supported by galleries and selling paintings to rich people. We have to beautify and uplift our communities. That money should come from the city and government. Not to mention, I feel like we’re in a constant battle trying to justify why art is important. It’s really overwhelming.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
I’m most active on Instagram. I post a lot of in progress videos and pics. I think that’s where people can get a better sense of my work. That’s also where I announce my upcoming shows. My solo show is coming up on January 19, 2019 at Buckwild Gallery in Mar Vista. My Instagram is: @vjriivera
I also have a website where people can purchase prints and art merch. My website is vjrivera.com
Contact Info:
- Website: vjrivera.com
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: instagram.com/vjriivera
Image Credit:
Lex Lumens
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
