France Garrido

France Garrido
Weehawken, New Jersey, USA

STATEMENT

Nature and Spirit have been great influences in my art and my life. Working specifically in the visionary and surrealist genre and employing universal symbols of sacred geometry, in particular the circle and the circle in the square, as key elements in this pursuit. I have developed a visual language utilizing, predominantly, collage/mixed media; these works might begin with an image that is striking to me, a word or phrase or free flow, similar to automatic writing. Sometimes beginning the process with a single image and possibly never use the image in the final piece. I “play” with the image and/or image making till it feels ‘cooked’. From that point forward it grows into the final piece. I will use appropriated and hand created images as well as objects and materials, such as handmade papers, etc. The piece speaks to me, or I’m moved in an intuitive manner. These works are created on illustration board, Masonite or MDF board.

I am seeking to touch, deep within the viewers spirit, a truth or essence.
To awaken/nudge/shift the subconscious.
Seduction into another world…A world of vision and dream.

BIO

France Garrido is best known for her highly detailed and intricate mixed media/collage works that exemplify the Visionary and Surrealist genre. Born in New York City and now living and working in Weehawken, New Jersey.

Her work incorporates sacred geometry, specifically the circle and the square, developing her own visual language.

As a young girl she visited The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City where she witnessed Dali’s The Crucifixion. This painting had a profound influence on her. She was transfixed; standing in front of this painting cemented in her a desire to be an artist and she felt that she was standing in front of the most incredible painting ever created!

In 1983, she received a grant to study the Mexican Mural Masterpieces in Mexico City, Cuernavaca and Taxco, which greatly influenced her art making, there she was introduced to Siqueiros, Kahlo, Rivera, Camerena et al. Simultaneously she began her deep exploration into collage, which grew into a lifelong passion.

In 2000, she co-founded and co-directed the Collage/Assemblage Society, New York City and became master collagist Jonathan Talbot’s studio assistant. She has consistently developed her own unique style of mixed media/collage, utilizing appropriated, self-generated and manipulated images along with objects, papers and a host of other elements. Höch, Dali, Schiele, cultures, nature and life have and continue to inspire her.

Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally as well as in Beijing at the United Nations Conference on Women. In 2009, she was selected for inclusion in Lexicon der Phantastischen Kunstler, authored by Gerhard Habarta, internationally known historian on Surreal, Visionary, Symbolic and Fantastic Art.

ARTIST CONTACT

[click to email]
www.artshealingalliance.com/france-garrido

IMAGES