We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Cynthia Pareja Dubin a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Cynthia, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
I have always been drawn to colors and painting from a young age.
I grew up in Lima, spending my childhood mostly at the house of my grandparents, surrounded with many pets, the beautiful nature they created in their small backyard, taking walks to the market and helping my grandparents. During those days, I felt the desire to draw animals and represent their beauty.
I always found them striking, especially looking at their eyes. I remember owning a film camera that my parents gifted me, and I would photograph them. This lead to also photograph my surroundings, my grandparents’ garden, and observe everyday objects, for instance, how the light from the sun entered through the window, or how a very cloudy day produced different shades of grey in the sky, and looking at everything from afar created a beautiful atmosphere; things that other people around me didn’t notice. This brought me to question what was beyond the sky, what was the meaning of the universe and so on.
My grandfather noticed this and was my first art teacher; he taught me how to draw. Eventually I started perfecting my techniques, and suddenly I realized that animals were too perfect to paint or draw. Years passed, and as I grew, I started traveling and enjoying experiencing new places. I knew I had to dedicate myself to something that involved creating; I enjoyed playing with computers and started practicing with CorelDraw and Illustrator. That is why I decided to study Graphic Design, a “career”. However, working in art, using my hands and finding sources of inspiration to compose visually from my own imagination was something that no computer could match, so I kept painting whenever I had free time.
While at university, taking art history courses, and learning about the different movements, artists’ lives, their biographies and artistic techniques, my professors recognized my skill and talent, and would advise me that I shouldn’t waste this gift. One professor suggested to me the book by Wassily Kandinsky: “Concerning the Spiritual in Art”, the inner necessity, and how artists and art connect humans to a deeper or transcendent meaning. This book answered a lot of questions, taught me so much, and has been with me for the past 14 years.
My commitment to creating art was recognized when in 2021 was awarded the Liquitex: “Just Imagine” Residency, an international recognition that sparked the interest of gallery owners and collectors in my work. Now I am a full-time artist, pursuing further opportunities as a Peruvian-born female painter, collaborating with non profit organizations to provide resources and inspiration for other women, so they too believe they can succeed in art or whatever profession they want to pursue.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
I was fortunate to have artistic guides that recognized my talent and encouraged me to refine my skills.
At Universidad San Ignacio de Loyola, my first, formal art education, I was selected to contribute to a group mural composition on one of the university buildings, and after transferring to the Universidad de Palermo in Buenos Aires, Argentina, I was awarded the first prize in editorial design for producing a book of excerpts and photography.
After graduating and returning to Peru, I began painting objet d’ arts that were sold at the United Nations Art Fair in Lima. My next position was teaching branding and graphic design as well as working in the marketing department for the Peruvian Institute of Art and Design (I.P.A.D). I finished this opportunity by being part of a judging panel for the students’ theses. Currently, I am based in the Greater New York area and teach abstract painting, always pursuing new ways to share my passion for visual art.
My fine art career is based in vibrant abstract paintings, collage and mixed media. I meticulously compose structures with intricate details. Working with acrylics, gouache, ink, gold foil, recycled fabric and textures sourced from my own creations, I examine their symbolic function as it relates to my interiority and the world we inhabit.
Everybody has ideas swirling in their head; my imagination is best expressed through a palette that I love and relate together to convey my emotions and experiences, for all art has been done and all that is left of us is our individuality, and how we choose to represent it to others in the world.
Most of my original artworks are sold to collectors of abstract work and businesses. I enjoy when they have found what they have been looking for, whether they are new collectors, decorating their first home, office or experienced patrons of modern art.
Charities, businesses and collectors sometimes want compositions based on a particular concept, prompt or to fill a particular dimension or space they want help designing. I welcome the challenge, as anything can be a source of inspiration.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
When I moved to the United States, I had to start my career from zero, yet I knew I wanted to dedicate my life to become a professional fine artist, and was ready to work hard for it.
I was surprised how North Americans did not recognized or know of the most prestigious schools and art institutes in South America, and soon realized I would need to earn my recognition with my work and work alone, creating a strong, distinctive portfolio, as well as applying to several art calls, groups exhibitions, grants and residencies.
Not all of these applications accepted my work; nevertheless I kept the path. My first group exhibitions in the USA were in Tribeca, as New York is always searching for new international talent, and the Liquitex “Just Imagine” Residency together with earning more prestigious collectors of my work encouraged me to pursue art as a full time career. My work has been exhibited at Paper Mill Playhouse, is currently available at JNuñez Gallery in Millburn, New Jersey and in 2023 I held my first solo exhibition titled “Intangible Ecosystems” at the Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
People can help contemporary creatives by being more participatory in their career while they are still alive and building it.
Many of us create unique pieces of work that are not mass produced, and take many hours and a piece of us to bring to life, and can cost the same or less than many high end couture brands that mass produce and purely base their value on the prestige with which people perceive their brand. That same prestige should be awarded to collectors of original work, and anyone can start small, collecting compositions or signed art prints from artists building their brand and earning their recognition, living and salary.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://cynthiapd.com/
- Instagram: cyndsgnr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthiapd/
- Other: https://www.jnunezgallery.com/cynthia-pareja-dubin
Image Credits
Cynthia Pareja Dubin JNuñez Gallery – Millburn NJ (collectors at JNuñez Gallery – 2022) Art Fair 14C – 2022 Powell Lane Art Gallery interview – 2023 Laboratorio Kitchen, Montclair, NJ -2023