How did you get into creating?

It was natural, I’ve been creating since i was a child, i played drawing and imagining and fantasizing worlds and heroes.

Where are you from?

Colombia

How did growing up in your neighborhood/city affect you?

I grew up in Medellin, Colombia, back in the 80’s and 90’s it was dangerous but at the same time i had beautiful memories of my hometown, the beautiful nature resources but at the same time the violence and the war that happened in Medellin Colombia between the government and the drug cartels.

What did you do to advance your skills/knowledge?

I went to college to study visual arts.

What does your current setup look like?

I am now a NYC based artist. I have a studio space in Manhattan, i try to go everyday and work for at lest 6 to 8 hours daily (the amount of details in my paintings takes time and energy) i am a full time artist. I usually prime and stretch the canvas directly on the wall, i start sketching with graphite and ink pencil and then i apply layers of smooth acrylic painting colors with very small brushes.

Who inspires you?

Good question, it depends more on what inspires me, if is a person, there are many artist that i admire, most of them are dead or are in Museums. For example I love the paintings of Diego Velasquez, I was able to visit once El museo del Prado in Madrid Spain, it was a revelatory moment to closely admire and look this masterpiece, the colors, the brushstroke and the composition of this painting that although being painted many centuries ago, it still looks modern and fresh, that’s for me the magic of art, real art is everlasting.

What is your goal when you create?

To really enjoy what i am doing, trying to be authentic and true to my own interests and background.

Why do you create?

It’s a necessity, a very essential part of me that needs to be fulfilled and expressed.

How has choosing your creative path affected your life?

Being an artist is not easy, it’s difficult, you have to face uncertainty and solitude many times, but when you create something that makes you proud it’s the most intense and joyous moment. Being an artist is an unconventional way of living, you don’t work for anyone else and only for yourself, which have advantages and disadvantages but in the end i never regret having chosen this path.

Did you have to overcome any obstacles along the way?

When i came to USA from Colombia, i was an immigrant, I didn't know anyone, I just have my bag and few belongings and it was difficult at the beginning, i have to do works and temporary jobs that i didn’t enjoy for a very low salary,mostly in warehouses packing and moving crates and boxes, it was not an easy task to try to open my own path to develop my career or at least to do what i really love that is to paint but these hard moments gave me strength to value and persevere.

What's your go-to song right now and why is it important to you?

There are many songs, i listen and like a lot of 80’s and 90’s rock and also in Colombia and spanish speaking countries back in the 80’s and 90’s we have our own “Rock en español” genre which have wonderful bands, like “la Union”, “Soda Stereo”, “Danza Invisible" among others.

What is your dream as an artist and what steps are you taking to reach your dream?

My dream as an artist is to create compelling artworks that communicate and inspire others and why not improve the world.

What would you tell someone else with a dream?

I will tell that dreamers are the beings that move the world and history that any big city, world, invention or whatever was a thought or a fantasy at the beginning. Artists are visionaries or mediums that live in the future and sometimes people don’t understand this because they may not be ready but the true artist is the motor and fuel that moves the creation.

Tell us about your most recent release

I just completed a self portrait,
In which i bring together images from the internet and memory—pop culture icons, corporate brands, and imagined scenes—set against elements of nature. The work reflects on a consumer society shaped by colonial legacies, media, and corporate power, and their impact on both our imagination and the natural world. Amid this tension, nature reclaims and coexists with these symbols in states of decay, suggesting renewal and resilience. Humor and irony emerge through caricatures and superheroes placed in contrast with systems of power. i am attaching an image to this interview.
I am attaching an image to this interview so you can see and appreciate it.

Share a link to your most recent release

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Website

http://www.alexisduque.net

Photography credit: Alexis Duque