We recently connected with Jessica Baldivieso and have shared our conversation below.

Jessica, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

My interest in painting space comes from my passion for architecture. I was born and grew up in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia. Our people and culture is characterized as being mestiza, a junction of the original Guaraní, and many other ethnic groups with the Spanish colonizers. This mix is evident in our traditions, language, art, music, and architecture. Our most iconic building is the city’s main Cathedral, Catedral Metropolitana Basílica de San Lorenzo which shows the Spanish catholic church’s influence on our people and culture.

I have been living in the USA for more than 10 years now, and for my first solo exhibition in Dallas, TX I wanted to show the root of my passion for architecture. I planned my biggest project yet, a huge painting of the cathedral, which is made of two 8 x 8 feet panels placed together in a corner, and a plexiglass mirror was placed on the floor to reflect the painting on the ground.

I only had 2 months to finish the project before I had to move out of my studio at The Cedars Union. Most of my studio mates thought I was crazy to think that I could make it in that time frame, but I had to try. I worked really hard and was able to complete the project on time and this was the centerpiece of my solo exhibition in the Oak Cliff Cultural Center.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

When I first moved to The US, in the year 2010, I enrolled at Fay Jones School Architecture in Fayetteville at the University of Arkansas. During this time I learned about Architecture, Design, and History, as well as how cities and towns grow influenced by people’s traditions, ideals, and culture.

This architecture program was challenging, to say the least, we had an intense workflow, and had to present in front of a crowd of professors and students weekly. In addition to these weekly pin-ups” as we used to call them, we had two big presentations per semester which were in front of everyone that would like to assist including the entire architecture faculty and student body. We learned the skill of public speaking under pressure.

In this program, I met influential mentors, such as Pia Sarpaneva, David Buege, Marc Manack, and Frank Jacobus, among other wonderful professors. During the 3 years that I was in this program, we travel as a class and learned about important city centers in the US, such as Chicago, Seatle, Kansas City, and Dallas, These visits were related to our semester project but most importantly we learned hands-on and in real scale how buildings interact with the city and its people.

After graduating with an Architectural Studies degree, I enrolled in the Fulbright College of Arts at the University of Arkansas to study Painting. I was very lucky to have great mentors such as David Andree, Marc Mitchell, and David Charles Chioffi. This time was enriching and it guided me toward the future I always dreamed about, being an artist. After learning about painting, art history, color theory, and the fundamentals of graphic design I felt confident and started painting without fear.

After graduating with a BA in Art Studio, I started working for professional artist George Dombek, as an artist’s assistant. During the year working with him, I learned abundantly about Art and business, the relationship and communication between the artist, the studio, the office work, and the client. This was an ideal job for me because it allowed me to have time to paint on my own.

In the year 2018, I moved back to my hometown Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia, where I painted for a year and in 2019 I had my first solo exhibition at the MAC (Museo de Arte Contemporaneo).

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

One of the most rewarding aspects of being an artist is showing your work to the public and having the opportunity to talk to the audience about your work and inspiration. I think this time where the artists connect with the public is enriching because you can see your work through the audience’s eyes for the first time. You can learn how your work is perceived by others and how it makes them feel. This interaction is key, this is the way the work is activated.

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

One simple way is to buy art from your local artists, this will directly help with material, studio, and administration fees, which are high for all artists. Another way is donating to local non-profit organizations that help artists, such as The Cedars Union. The Cedars Union is a Dallas-based art incubator that aids artists with affordable studio spaces and tools.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.jessbaldi.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jess.baldi/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessbaldi
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-baldivieso-art