Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Alberto Garcia Uria. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Alright, Alberto thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
From as early as I can remember the world around me presented what seemed like a blank canvas, Whether it was a house, a car, a tree, or a face, I wanted to draw it. This inclination towards capturing and reinterpreting my surroundings signaled my deep-seated passion for art and creativity.
This passion was nurtured and encouraged by my parents, who played an instrumental part in my artistic journey. From an early age their support and confidence in my abilities fostered a sense that I could fulfill my aspirations of becoming an artist. They cultivated an environment where creativity and artistic expression was celebrated.
Among my earliest experiences with art, finger painting stands out. It was not merely about applying colors to a surface. It was about experiencing the colors, observing how they blended, and feeling the textures they formed under my fingers. This early activity not only delighted my senses but deeply ingrained in me a fascination with textural abstract art, which would emerge later in life.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I was born in Cuba and when the Revolution of 1960 happened, we emigrated to the United States. It was a tough transition for my family, and although I was very young the experience not only affected me as a young man, but it also inspired my art. I always think and feel my roots and culture when I paint.
My experiences as an immigrant have profoundly influenced my work, serving as a lens through which I explore broader themes. This journey led me to delve into the Vanguardia Art movement in Cuba, fostering a deep appreciation and admiration for Cuban artists like Wilfredo Lam and Amelia Pelaez. Their ability to marry the abstract with the figurative has been a guiding force in my own artistic journey.
My artistic style and approach have undergone significant transformation over time. I began my formal training in Florence, Italy, where I immersed myself in a classical approach. This period of rigorous study, involving countless hours of drawing figures in charcoal and painting portraits in oil, laid the foundational skills that would later evolve. The classical training has remained an anchor even as my work has shifted towards a more abstract form of expression. My art continues to marry these classical roots with modernist interpretations, creating a unique hybrid that speaks to both tradition and innovation.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist for me is finding that my work speaks. It may not speak to everyone, but if it even speaks to one person, I have been successful.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Society can best support artists by supporting and investing in the arts in schools from a very young age. When children are exposed to art and given the opportunity to create, they will grow to appreciate art and in turn artists and art in our world thrives and becomes a integral part of our lives. Art should be as important as physical education and the sciences in our schools.
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- Website: https://www.chasingmymagic.com
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