Today we’d like to introduce you to Isabel Oliva.
Hi Isabel, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’m a Cuban American artist, born and raised in South Florida. I attended New World School of the Arts for high school here in Miami, FL. New World is really where I was able to cultivate and find my voice as a young artist, through the mentorship and support of my professors and peers.
I remember the exact moment I realized I wanted to commit to pursuing art as a career path. I was at the Rubell Family Collection to check out the NO MAN’S LAND exhibition. This exhibition focused on and celebrated work made by more than a hundred female artists of different generations, cultures, and disciplines.
Cecily Brown’s work was included in this show. I had been looking at her work for a while and was so excited to finally see one of her paintings in person. I was so captivated by the energy present in her work and the fluidity and constant transformation the figures in her compositions seemed to be in, seeming aerial yet grounded in reality. Something sparked in me that day, I just knew I was meant to be an artist.
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?
After completing my BFA in Fiber studies at the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2022, I immediately started working as a textile designer in Baltimore, Maryland. For a time it was quite challenging to find the balance between work and dedicating time to my practice. It was a great learning experience, but I felt something was missing.
The work I was doing was challenging and fun but what I really wanted to do was spend time in my studio. I decided to take a risk and move back home to Miami to work on my studio practice full-time. Since then, I have participated in a few group exhibitions. Megafauna Land Dwellers at the Youngarts Gallery, in Miami, Florida, and NADA Miami at the Ice Palace for Miami Art Week 2023. I was also able to continue my weaving practice by attending the Praxis Fiber Workshop DWL residency this past March.
This residency allowed me the space, time, and resources to challenge my digital weaving skills. I am now once again balancing my work life and my studio practice, but I am so happy I followed the instinct to take some time off for myself and my art. This past year I have realized how important it is to follow what your heart is telling you and take risks!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I have always felt deeply connected to the undeniable magic that is present in the natural world. There is something familiar about a serpent coiling around a tree. The way a butterfly’s wings are wet and heavy when it comes out of its cocoon. The shine in a spider’s web. The silhouettes and shadows I conjure in my work are inspired by the edges of the animate earth. The sight of these creatures evokes a feeling of nostalgia within me. They are emissaries from my unconscious.
My work explores the archaic connection I have to the natural world, as well as my quest to create and explore my own personal mythology. I draw inspiration from the natural world to create artificial landscapes and fantastical ecosystems filled with creatures that are fleeting and constantly transforming.
Invoking a realm where I can explore my relationship with animals and symbols that I see as a reflection of myself. I reference reality to create a fantasy. This intersection of nature and abstraction creates an atmosphere where wildlife fluctuates and hybrid entities emerge. This manifests itself through the layering of delicate lines, shadows, and symbols that I create on paper and cloth.
My woven works explore symbols, imagery distortion, and animal transformation. I create my weavings with a TC2 loom. The TC2 (thread controller two) is a jacquard loom based on computer technology. This tool requires the weaver to design their weaving in Photoshop. Once the Photoshop file is plugged into the TC2 software, the artist can begin manually weaving the file. I begin my weaving process by choosing a few drawings and merging them together digitally. The transition from drawing to weaving alters the original imagery. The TC2 allows the artist to experiment with weave structures, imagery, color, and weft density in a way that would not be possible on a regular floor loom. The way that imagery, structure, and color intersect when creating cloth is a core idea explored in this body of work.
I recently completed a two-week residency at Praxis Fiber Workshop in Cleveland, Ohio as the TC2 Digital Weaving Lab resident this past March. This was an incredible learning experience as well as a great opportunity for me to be immersed in a community of artists who incorporate digital weaving into their own artistic practice.
During my time at Praxis, I created weavings with the three-weft design process. This is a process where you create a design that includes three different colors, and blend them in different combinations throughout your design, the outcome is a weaving with a sophisticated color palette.
I translate my drawings from paper into a digital realm to allow a second world to emerge from the fantastical landscapes I create. Thanks to this unique opportunity, I was able to experiment with weaving structures, imagery, and color to create a new body of work.
Networking and finding a mentor can have a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
If there is an artist or creative that you want to be in conversation with or maybe collaborate with them on a project, reach out to them! You never know how people will respond and what paths will open up for you from those conversations.
I often attend artist talks or book readings that are related to my practice and I have met many artists and like-minded creatives that way! It’s all about finding people who speak the same language as you.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://isabeloliva.squarespace.com/
- Instagram: @sirenastudio_
Image Credits
Praxis Fiber Workshop
