We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Lillian Aguinaga. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Lillian below.
Hi Lillian, thanks for joining us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.
I knew I wanted to be a professional artist starting at around 12 years old. Initially, I thought about pursuing graphic design, but I quickly realized that I didn’t want a career that involved staring at a computer screen all day. I also did not like the idea of “office life.” In 2003, I received a full scholarship to the University of Memphis for both art and academics, where I began studying film photography. Although I enjoyed being in the field and taking photos, I found the hours spent in the darkroom to be completely unfulfilling. I need light!
Then, I took my first college course in oil painting. I believe my heart expanded after the first few weeks of the course. Painting was nothing new to me, but I had only worked in acrylic and had never had in-depth academic instruction. The way it feels to push paint around on a surface is intrinsic for me. It connected my mind, heart, and intuition into a harmonious creative process.
That was back in 2005. Since then, it has been a rocky road but I persisted and now proudly work as a full-time fine artist.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am a Peruvian-American artist who was raised by a single mother in Memphis, TN. Since I was a kid, I had a paintbrush in my hand. Art has been a constant presence in my life since childhood, with my grandmother being an artist and my mother always nurturing my creativity.
I began college at the University of Memphis in 2003, and relocated to Lafayette, LA, a few years later. I earned a BFA in Painting from the University of Louisiana – Lafayette in 2010. I supported myself with various jobs like waiting tables, instructing art classes, and working at a veterinarian clinic. There was about a year of inadvertent absence from painting, which was awful for me! Then, I started a pet portrait business in 2012, which got me back into painting. After a couple more years in Lafayette, I moved to New Orleans which is where I continued my pet portrait business. In 2016, I experienced a massive shift in my life and delved back into my conceptual work. Over time, I have developed a business centered around my art, expanding into mural design and painting. My artistic focus lies in creating figurative paintings characterized by vibrant colors and striking shadows, set within intimate environments that evoke a sense of solitude amidst chaos.
My work captures fleeting moments of the human experience and our pursuit of belonging while navigating the constant burden of existence. I grew up in the Bible Belt. Discovering where I fit in and being comfortable with my identity was a challenging journey to say the least. I didn’t look like my peers, I listened to metal, and I dressed…well, let’s not even go there. This and experiences dealing with my own mental health shape the perspective in my work. Femme subjects dominate my work, as I am intrigued by the inherent tenacity and strength within the feminine construct.
Emotional, relatable, and empowering, my art serves as a source of solace for viewers. You know when you’re feeling down and you listen to a sad song for comfort? That’s how my work is for many. Viewers often find solace in the vulnerability of my paintings, which in turn offers encouragement and healing. I take pride in creating art that captivates audiences and inspires them to persevere through life’s challenges.
Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?
January 25, 2016, I lost my home and studio to a fire. It was extremely scary as I ran out of the burning apartment barefoot with nothing but my dog, Bauer. In the months after, I ended a toxic 10-year relationship, and had back surgery. I became deeply depressed, and physically and mentally unable to paint for months, among other things. However, that pain became a catalyst to dive deeper into conceptual work, which is something I hadn’t done in years.
I began selling that artwork online and vending at markets. Although I made a living as an artist then, it was solely off of pet portrait commissions and teaching art. Now most of my income is from my conceptual work.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
I recently wrapped a 5000 square foot collaborative public art mural. 6 lead muralists, all women, teamed up with 9 youth artists who were mostly young women. This is the first all women and youth mural production in New Orleans. It was a 6 month project from the initial planning and design to the final coat of varnish. Three of the lead muralists, myself included, painted large portraits of some of the female youth artists.
To see the youth artists’ immense pride and increased confidence is astounding. They feel like they have a voice in this male-dominated art world and in their own community. It brings me to tears to think of how art can change one’s soul, and how it’s shaped mine. The vulnerability of putting your art out there can be daunting, but our voices need to be heard. I hope to continue to create work that affects people and paves a path for the amplification of younger artists’ voices.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.lillianaguinaga.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lillianaguinaga/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lillianaguinaga/
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@artoflillian