Check Out Alejandra Phelts’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Alejandra Phelts.

Hi Alejandra, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory. 
I was born and raised in Mexicali, a border city in the Baja California Desert where the climate is extreme, with beautiful sunsets where the sunlight is always present. I grew up as the youngest of 5 sisters. My mother practiced sewing, and fabrics surrounded my childhood afternoons, threads and design. My mom showed me the love of art; she taught me to value what is handmade and to care about perfection. My father, a lover of books and knowledge, transmitted his passion for the history of art and travel. 

Experience that changed my vision 

At 19, I traveled to France to study philosophy, and it was there that my vision of the world changed. My neighbor was a sculptor; she was the first artist I met and admired. At school, I took courses in art history and aesthetics. I regularly visited museums. My taste and knowledge of the Arts started to grow as well. Later, I returned to Mexico and moved to Tijuana, the city where I currently live. Here, I met the Artist Alvaro Blancarte, of whom I was an apprentice for two years. He made me aware of the talent that I possessed. I decided to become an Artist, and later, I graduated with a degree in Fine Arts from the Autonomous University of Baja California. Since then, I have strived to transform my talent and creativity into something more and solidify myself as an artist. I consider art to be a journey full of wonderful experiences and interesting people. Art requires daily work, concentration, and determination. It’s an exciting profession that combines your public life with your most intimate and private thoughts. For me, it is luck and a gift of life that has left me with very meaningful experiences, friends, and amazing trips. 

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Art is not an easy journey; as per the ¨starving artist¨ reference, many people like art, but they’re not willing to pay for it. As artists, we have to make poetry, expecting something sublime as an art piece, but at the same time, we have to pay for rent and food. Therefore, this is where reality sets in, and we need to have a strong character in order not to lose our artistic identity. There are moments of doubt, and believing in myself has not been the most obvious. As an artist, believing truly in oneself is the biggest challenge. We must continue to be determined and independent to emotional, economic, and political adversities. The artist has to compete with his or her own self in order to excel in their own art expression. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
My expertise is painting, but I consider myself as a multidisciplinary artist. I’ve also use other art practices, such as photography, video, performance, and textile art to explore the feminine condition that characterizes women living in the Tijuana border area. My latest work is called ¨Mujeres Pajaro, Mujeres Transfronterizas¨ The Bird Women Project. Made from a figurative language that is based on metaphors, the Bird Women project., ¨Mujeres Transfronterizas¨presents, through metaphors and symbolic references, the identity of those cross-border women who travel, live, and coexist going and coming between border cities such as Mexicali, Tijuana, Tecate, and San Diego. Women free like the flight of birds, who seem fragile but are very strong, like dancers, who live together and support each other with sisters and friends since they were children. 

I’m known for my use of color; in all of my art pieces, I evoke the feminine condition. I want to convey liberty, courage, and solidarity for women. I’m also known for the following artwork series: Cart, Costura, Retrato siluminados, Mujeres Pajaro, Amazonas, and Circa. 

What are you most proud of? I’m proud of my sons, Iker and Dante, that are kind and energetic about life. I’m also proud of my international career, I have participated in more than 60 exhibitions in the United States, Canada, France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Mónaco, Indonesia, China, México, Perú, Argentina, Brazil, Abu Dhabi, and Oman. 

Currently, I have a solo exhibition ¨Mujeres Pajaro, Mujeres Transfronterizas¨ at the MOLAA, Museum of Latin American Art in Long Beach, California. The exhibition is still ongoing and will be held until the end of August 2024. 

What sets you apart from others? I’ve dared to propose a post-conceptual aesthetics, different from the rest, link to beauty and luminosity, which is not very common in contemporary art. 

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
It really does not matter what you dedicate your existence to; living your life with love and passion will serve as inspiration to future generations. I’m not referring to fame; I’m talking about day-to-day experiences with our children, family, and friends. It´s more about telling a story of love and hope. 

Contact Info:

• Website: pheltsartist.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alejandraphelts/?hl=es
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alephelts/?locale=es_LA
• Linkedin: https://mx.linkedin.com/in/alejandra-phelts-9056ab90
• Youtube: https://youtu.be/BaxbhGunCyU?si=oyLBi3qxg-I76AKu

Image Credits
Leon Chargoy
Jonathan Esquinca