Today we’d like to introduce you to Nina Surel.
Hi Nina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I studied fashion and textil design at the Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA) and costume and set design at the Teatro Colon Instituto de Arte in Argentina. I moved to the United States in 2001 to focus in my art. I’ve been shown mostly in Italy and exhibited in institutions and galleries in the United States, Europe and Latinoamérica.
In 2016, I founded TheCollective62, an independent art space devoted to the creation and community-based workshops located in Liberty City, Florida, where 17 women artists show up every day.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The feeling of misplacement inspired me to find my own path. Being an immigrant was the first struggle; landing in New York after September 11 not very promising. I moved to Miami and applied for an O1 visa for extraordinary ability. I was accepted at the oolite residency later. Sometimes is not easy to find balance between my work and the family (I’m a mother of three) but I get everything I need, the energy to keep going.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I’m a multidisciplinary artist. My work explores archetypes by incorporating elements from an array of sources. I look at art history, New Age Culture and ritual practice to address the universe of the feminine with a personal and introspective emphasis. In an ever-growing range of techniques, among them video, photography, sculpture, painting and installation, I question the logics innate to vital processes part and parcel of womanhood and the passage of time. I’m proud of my level of freedom and how my work advances at a pace of intuition.
What does success mean to you?
It’s a sense of accomplishment that enriches your perception of life and the importance of the role you play.
Contact Info:
- Email: Nina@ninasurel.com
- Website: www.ninasurel.com
- Instagram: @ninasurel
Image Credits
Omar Cruz
