Reef, 2022

Grace Ramsey  

Artist Statement:

I'm a circus artist and emerging contemporary painter out of Oakland, California. I like to work in medium-to large scale paintings in mixed media. I've been visual artist all my life, first specializing in realism. The road to this juncture has been a long and strange one. Studying for my BFA, I found myself so limited by my own fears and expectations of my artwork that I ended up giving up on art almost completely. Now after nearly a decade, I've started making art that I stand behind. I'm creating abstract works which pull inspiration from my background in circus and the travels I've had during that time, as well as my family heritage.

I've learned through my years as a circus performer the true art of improvisation, using my skills to light up a room with only a loose idea of what I'm supposed to be creating. This has translated to my paintings. With equal parts technique and intuition, I set out to evoke an emotion and let the creation blossom from there. My paintings are defined by their rhythm and gestural quality. They're whirling and capture the fleeting nature of a memory. I'm fascinated by color, movement, balance, and texture., and my work is evocative and emotional.

My influences include historical and contemporary artists from Toulouse-Lautrec to Agustí Puig, Pat Stier, and Ricardo Weisse, as well as performing arts including works by Quixotic and the early creations of Franco Dragone. I also take inspiration from my Latin roots. My father immigrated from Peru in the seventies, and my family has Spanish and Portuguese heritage. I'm inspired especially by Flamenco and Spanish guitar, and even when I try not to, my works seem to evoke a similar intensity and passion.

Education:

2007 - Pratt Institute of Art and Design - Pre-college program, traditional illustration. I ultimately got into Pratt, but with the financial crisis, my family couldn't afford to send me.

2010-2012 - UC Denver - BFA Painting.
2014-2015 - Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design - BFA Painting.

I ultimately left school to join the circus (no, really).

Exhibitions:

As an emerging artist, I have not been in any exhibitions yet.

Artistic Influences:

Artists:
Historical:
-Toulouse-Lautrec 
-Mucha
-Goya

Contemporary:
-Agustí Puig
-Pat Stier
-Ricardo Weisse

Movements:
-Expressionism
-Surrealism
-Dutch Renaissance 

Other:
-Performing arts including aerial fabric and rhythmic gymnastics.