Drawing by Gabriela Brito

Statement

My practice focuses on the female figure and role, delving into the importance of relationships among women and the commonalities within their stories. The work is based on feminist history from which I pull elements to construct a symbolic visual language that informs the paintings, each piece conceived as a scene in motion portraying past and ongoing female actions. My intention is to preserve female efforts, struggles, victories, and stories through fictional images.  

Drawing by Gabriela Brito

Bio

Born in 1989, Gabriela is a self-taught Venezuelan artist. A storyteller with a background in design and communications, she holds a BBA degree in Strategic Design & Management  from Parsons The New School for Design in New York City.  In 2014, Gabriela began her career in art, focusing on painting and illustration. She became involved in cultural and creative protests projects in her hometown Maracaibo and was invited to participate in group shows in Aruba, New York and Spain. In 2016, she held her first solo show "Hijos del Petróleo" (Children of oil) from which one piece was selected to participate in the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women anual auction. She currently works and resides in Barcelona, Spain, where she obtained a Postgraduate degree in Museum and Cultural Heritage Management at the Universitat de Catalunya in 2019, and a Master's degree in Digital Arts Curatorship from ESDi, Universitat Ramon Llull, in 2020.  

www.gabrielabrito.com

Drawing by Gabriela Brito

What continues to motivate you to create your work?

I think it is a sum of different things, personal and professional. There is a need for self-expression and an urge to make, but there is also the aspiration to develop and share work that is compelling to others. I want to create art about women that gives back to women somehow, whether to pay homage, inspire, preserve their stories, or keep them company. With that in mind, I feel a constant and genuine conviction that I should be making work because it matters.

Who or what influences your practice?

The content of my pieces is influenced by women’s stories. Throughout my life I have always had a strong female presence surrounding me; in my family, my friends, and my professional life. I think that is why I gravitated towards centering my work on learning about the history of women. There is also something that I think has formed the way I envision my compositions, and that is my relationship with flamenco. I have danced flamenco since I was a little girl, and I can see how it pops up in the poses of my figures and in the way they seem to be in a sort of choreography. As far as references, there are many artists who inspire me, but currently, my favorites are Paula Rego, Alice Neel, and Jacqueline Marval. Last but not least, music is always a source of inspiration. My current studio soundtrack is an all-female flamenco quartet, Las Migas.

Drawing by Gabriela Brito

How would you describe the mood of your work?

I do not think there is a single mood, but I do recognize a sort of theatricality that, I believe, comes from conceiving them as scenes in motion. The work is always expressive and contains layers of meanings without being secretive; I leave room for interpretation but I like for art to be approachable and warm. I would describe it as dynamic and honest.

What do you feel is the most challenging part of being an artist?

Being an artist is challenging on several levels; it can be financially complicated, and it is not always taken seriously as a profession. But perhaps the most challenging aspect of being an artist is that it relies heavily on the acceptance and opinions of others, and this can have an emotional toll on you if you lose sight of your purpose. You have to avoid feeling discouraged while building your career and trust the process and your point of view. It takes humility, patience, discipline, and resilience.

Tell us about something from your creative life that you are particularly proud of.

Back when I was still home in Venezuela, I had the chance to be involved in creative protests along with a group of fellow artists. We led activities in public spaces that combined music, dance, and crafts, and I do not think there is anything that compares to seeing people interact and use your work to express their struggles and wishes. I am also particularly proud of a piece that was part of the annual auction of the UN Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women in London, not only because of the purpose of the auction itself but because it was a piece from the first series I ever painted. Lastly, I take pride in my determination to keep creating work.

Drawing by Gabriela Brito
Drawing by Gabriela Brito
Drawing by Gabriela Brito