Rising Stars: Meet Patrizia Martiradonna

Today we’d like to introduce you to Patrizia Martiradonna.

Patrizia, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born in Rome in 1969. At the age of 20, I arrived in Los Angeles to study English and photography. Three events greatly influenced the scope and direction of my art journey, one meeting my first husband a great photographer and an amazing artist from St. Louis and second a 1994 photographing trip across America, viewing the vast landscape through the means of a modern eye (my Nikon), later on inspiring me to make my soft pallet abstract paintings.

In 1995 I found myself back in Rome, working among a group of mentally ill patients from the ‘Istituto Santa Maria della Pieta’. Befriending with a painter and patient Mr Fenu we exchanged thoughts and ideas. He was an incredible Painter I started molding new ideas. I identified myself with colors and brushes more and more, gradually leaving the camera behind and keeping on painting daily.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Every artist who decides to pursue a career or craft and creation embarks on journey that is unique to each one. Although some accomplished artists will never discuss this or admit it art is a struggle for everyone. It doesn’t matter your skill level. Making a living as an artist is very difficult for all but a few high-profile artists and the lack of sufficient financial remuneration for artist labor is the dark reality at the heart of the contemporary art world. It can become a real struggle and a reason to give up, but I want every artist to know that art will help you to become a better person, will make your life more joyful, keep doing what you do! I have been painting for over 30 years and I probably will for the rest of my life regardless of what others think of it. At the beginning, I had mixed feelings about pursuing art. I had the deepest desire to paint and create but also the fear of not be able to succeed. As time went on, I became more aware of my artistic journey and my why.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am an abstract painter who works with different mediums, including combinational tones and texture. I venture with the becoming image, magically, as the paint spreads until a different organic matter, a visual atmosphere is created. My finished work seems to consistently escape aesthetic and technical arrangements: I search for life in art and that is what I see!

The images I make are not intentional symbols nor representations of a known physical world, they reveal subconscious reflections. Brushstrokes tell the story of my unpredictable universe.

I am proud of my work after 30 years, my paintings are personal, my focus has become spiritual, narrating interior landscape, I have developed my unique visual form.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I have always done my work my own way, going against the market suggestions in many cases. I have listened to my art and became true to myself, never compromised to please a gallery or an art dealer. Finally after many years, I have opened my art studio/ gallery, in this space I move and think freely, creating work that pleases me. At the end what is art for? In my opinion art rebalances us, art makes us less lonely, and art keeps us hopeful!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.patriziamartiradonna.com
• Instagram: @martiradonna_abstract
• Twitter: @letthepaintflow