Welcome to another captivating episode of the Women United ART PODCAST! In this episode, we sit down with Nina Alderete, an accomplished artist from Burien, Washington. Nina holds a B.A. from the University of California Santa Cruz, an M.F.A. in Painting from Central Washington University, and an M.S. from the University of the Pacific. Her expertise lies in creating small-scale collage paintings that delve into layers, depth, stylized composition, and personal internal logic.
Nina's work beautifully intertwines the highly personal with the unknowable, creating a resonance that is both disquieting and alluring. Her artistic process allows her to explore the internal dialogues between thoughts and the body as they interact with and respond to the environment. Through key materials and symbolism, she constructs narratives that play between dreamlike beauty and a veiled relationship with her memory and emotions.
Working intuitively, Nina's compositions often feature themes of strange beauty and concealed discomfort, grime, obsessive thoughts, and anxiety. Her internal symbolism is rich: watercolor marks evoke viscera, fabric pieces signify illness, and beads depict breath and air. Text on each piece reflects a continuous discord of thoughts, emotions, and connections between body and objects.
Using collaged elements from midcentury texts, dated magazines, and vintage fabric, Nina explores the emotional expectations and tensions surrounding gender and appearance. These materials, while graphically appealing, also induce a sense of discomfort and imposition.
Critical to her process are needles and thread, reminiscent of hemming clothing. This tactile engagement leaves physical traces of her body in each piece, such as hair, dirt, blood, and skin, creating an intimate yet repulsive connection to her work.
Nina's use of transparency through materials like watercolors, tracing paper, sheer fabrics, and wax helps her develop depth and an internal connection between materials. Join us as we dive into Nina Alderete's unique artistic journey and uncover the fascinating layers of her collage paintings.
Nina Alderete
@ninaaldereteart
This show is brought to you by Women United ART MOVEMENT, a global platform highlighting women in the arts through a wide range of opportunities such as solo and group exhibits, annual art prize for women artists, and quarterly publication.
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