Life Lines no. 6
At the intersection of Art and Design. đ€
I know it's practically February, but hey, happy New Year! How are you managing with the world seeming to go bananas lately? It feels like everything is happening all at once, and sometimes, I don't know what to do with all these feelings, so I just start drawing lines again. I hope your year has started off great, though. Yes, it's been wild seeing everything that's unfolded, but we just have to keep moving forward. This too shall pass. My mom always emphasized the importance of letting yourself cry and recognizing that nothing lasts foreverâneither the good nor the bad. So let's support each other and hold tight because this is just the beginning.
Anyway... welcome to Issue No. 6 of Life Lines. Writing these issues is becoming a bit easier, and I can't believe I've sent out six already! Thanks for being here. â€ïž
Can a designer be an artist?
If you're reading this newsletter, you're likely familiar with my work as an artist. However, I also wear another hat: I am a designer. Leading design projects for artists has been my professional calling for quite some time.
Growing up in Mexico, the fear of pursuing art led me to study graphic design. After college, I quickly began working with artists, designing for them and vicariously living through their creative expressions. I longed to be like them, to express my soul without boundaries, to connect with the universe, and of course, to be seen as an artist. But for about 13 years, I worked as a designer and made art just for myself. During that time, crafting art catalogs, exhibition titles, and promotional materials was enough.
I recently gave a presentation at my alma mater about the intersection between art and design. You can view the slides from that keynote talk here. (Sorry no text just images đ)
As I've faced my fear by exploring my artistic practice further, I've encountered a persistent insecurity about identifying as an artist, perhaps due to my formal and longstanding background in design. Yet, I keep missing a key factor unique to my circumstances: being a designer is intricately linked to my art.
To me, design has always been about creating a visual language that allows an organization or institution to communicate with the world. As I come to understand it better, I see that my art also relies on a dynamic visual language, one that evolves with my life's experiences.
As the lead designer at PARDON, I collaborate with a team of talented designers to develop visual languages for diverse projects. Our portfolio spans art initiatives such as Cannery Village Gallery, Collé, and New Projects. We also shape the visual identities for brands like Optimism, Super Age and Inspired Stays. I take pride in this role and am increasingly aware that my worlds of design and art are intertwined, continuously enhancing my creative expression.
This merging of roles is an ongoing journey of growth, and writing this newsletter has helped clarify this integration, illustrating how wearing both 'hats'âdesigner and artistâdoesnât just add up; they combine to form a much larger, more impactful 'mega hat' that enhances my creative expression and professional impact.
Can a designer be an artist? Absolutely, yes. It feels silly just writing this honestly, but I had to. My art depends on my visual language, the one that allows me to express myself. My design work does not reflect me the way my art does. My art is a line coming out directly from my soul and I love that.
As I navigate these two worlds, I invite you to consider how the multiple worlds you inhabit could influence each other if you let them free of fear and allow them to interact with each other. đ€
Collaborations
I love getting the chance to work with the same wonderful people more than once. This past month, I've had that opportunity a couple of times, which makes me feel very fortunate!
Kids First Health Care
Kids First Health is opening a new clinic, and I am working on a couple of murals throughout their new building. The first part of the project is done, and as soon as the inspection is passed, I should be able to come back and finish the project entirely. Photos of the finished project coming soon!
The Biennial of the Americas
My friends at The Biennial commissioned me to create special artworks for some very special team members, and I absolutely love how they turned out. They are all very similar but at the same time, each is unique. SĂ, señor!
Other Projects
"Little Ghost" and two other works from my previous show sold a few days ago! Most of the works from my show "The Moon Inside" last summer in Marfa, Texas are almost gone. If you are interested in seeing what's available, please feel free to reply to this email, and I can gladly send you a list.
In Flux (Cupid & His Tricks)
My new solo show opens June 7th in San Francisco, and I have been enjoying exploring this new body of work so much. I am excited to present these new works later this year. In the meantime, here is just a sneak peek. đ¶âđ«ïž
Art From Friends
Julian and Desiree, two of the coolest and nicest friends I have, run an amazing photo studio, WNRD STUDIO. They create beautifully amazing photo shoots, and seeing them in action just makes me want to keep going. They are my studio roommates, and since the day I moved in, they have been super welcoming. They also like giving hugs, which I love very much. Anyway, check out their work here or on their Instagram here.
That is all. Thank you, again, for being here!
Here's a nice photo I came across on the internet that I immediately saved to my camera roll. I think you might like it too. Cheers!
Thank you for adding your Art to Kids First Health Care Clinics.