Today we’d like to introduce you to Belen Islas.
Belen, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My recent story as a visual artist started when my daughter was born. Giving birth to a new life is the most transformative experience, and it made me reevaluate what is important. The day she was born, a realization that I could give the world more as an artist was born too. I understood that what matters is the community that we form and what we give to others.
Today, I am grateful that my artwork has been shown in Latin America, the US, and Mexico, and more recently, the Florence Biennale invited me to participate in 2021. I was also fortunate in that the stARTup Art Fair in San Francisco and the Latin American Art Fair featured my work, and I received the Westlake Art Guild’s mixed media award. However, the best thing about my visual arts career is connecting with others. I remember the first time that a person cried in front of one of my pieces and I was deeply affected by it. Art has the power to influence minds, touch hearts, and transform lives.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
The road of an artist is not smooth. Yet, what makes this adventure interesting is overcoming obstacles. As an entrepreneur, I am constantly looking for opportunities, searching for creative solutions, and connecting with others. The most recent setback was Coronavirus. The year started well with three successful exhibits, a new mural project, and a planned pop-up gallery, all until the arrival of Covid-19. That resulted in the cancellation of all those projects. Despite that, or because of that, I am working on an online space, “Pacific Art Community,” a supportive community of artists and art lovers, a place for artists to promote and sell their work.
Please tell us about Belen Islas Studio.
The Argonaut magazine described my work as magical realism, and the Sun Newspaper from San Diego called me a surrealistic painter. Perhaps they use those descriptions because I paint stories, dreams, and hopes. A friend once told me, words are not enough to express what we are feeling right now, yet art has a better chance. Today, more than ever, we need art.
I think the best part of being a professional artist is to connect with others. I feel honored when a person is moved by one of my pieces. My most recent series of paintings, entitled “Cosmos,” explores the connection between humanity and the universe. This past February, I had the opportunity to show my series at Startup Art Fair in Venice, CA. Insightful conversations took place, and strangers fast became friends. Another extraordinary thing that happened was that art also allowed people to do good. To make that happen, I set aside twenty percent of my art sales to plant trees around the world, with the help of an organization called “One Tree Planted.”
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I have learned many lessons since I started my career as a visual artist. The first is that inspiration comes when you work hard. The second, most important lesson learned is that the concept of an isolated but successful artist doesn’t exist. As in any other enterprise, connecting with others is key. If I had to start over, I would start building a community earlier. I would foster a supportive community from the very start.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://belenislas.com/
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belenislas/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/studiobelenislas
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