Meet Wendy Gracia | Oil painter

We had the good fortune of connecting with Wendy Gracia and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Wendy, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was born and raised in San Diego by two parents who immigrated here from Mexico City. I spent my childhood summers visiting my family home in Mexico, and spending time with my family, but we were always known as the American cousins. We preferred to speak English and were often times (lovingly) teased for our accents in Spanish, and I believe that my experience feeling othered is what led to me exploring Mexican folk subject matter with my art. A lot of my paintings tend to be of pan dulce, or alebrijes, or even Day of the Dead themed objects. It helps me feel closer to my culture in a language that needs no words.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I’m an oil painter creating vibrantly-colored still life paintings of traditionally Mexican objects. I’m inspired by the vivid colors used in a lot of the folk crafted items, such as alebrijes and ceramic cups or household decorations. I also find myself enjoying being able to push radiant colors in my paintings in a way that appeals to the viewer without overwhelming them.

I learned to paint traditionally in my undergrad: I studied drawing & painting at Laguna College of Art + Design, and that was where I really feel like I learned to master the subtlety of a good brushstroke. After moving back home once I graduated, it was a little difficult to find my place in the art scene here, but eventually I found myself gravitating towards Barrio Logan. I never previously considered myself Chicana, but ultimately, that was the concept I was exploring as an artist. Being American with a Mexican heritage. It wasn’t easy feeling accepted, at first, but I found some incredible spaces and incredible creatives in the community who have since made me feel so welcomed and appreciated.

It just feels incredible to be able to create artworks that impact other people. To show my paintings in galleries, locally and otherwise, and to know somebody wants to collect my work or even just follow along on my journey via social media. It means a lot to me to know that the paintings I’ve made that help me connect with my background, also seem to resonate with other people.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
My day job is working at a museum in Balboa Park, so that’s definitely a favorite spot of mine. There’s countless museums in Balboa, and you could definitely make a week of visiting just that place alone. I’d probably take them to the San Diego Zoo and make a whole day there, and finish up with some dinner nearby at Plumeria. Super delicious vegetarian Thai food.

A beach day is necessary in San Diego, and the shores at La Jolla are so beautiful. As a museum-goer, I’d probably start at the beach, stop for a quick visit at the Museum of Contemporary Art, La Jolla. There’s some cool galleries there, too. My old professor, Perry Vasquez, has a show up at Quint titled ‘Some Palms’. I also really love The Living Room Coffeehouse. Their pastries are super yummy and they’re just a couple blocks up from the beach.

Back to Balboa Park, I think, for a museum day. Museum of Us, the Nat, Mingei International, and the Japanese Friendship Garden are some of my favorites. Plus, Cafe in the Park makes a killer grilled cheese. I’d stop there for lunch, and maybe finish the trip with a quick visit to MoPA, which shares a building with Cafe in the Park.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There’s a few people I’d love to shout out. It took me a while to find my footing in the San Diego art scene, but if it weren’t for my friend Ale Ruiz Tostado for introducing me to Chely, from Luna Bloom Shop in Barrio Logan and Jaz Puentes, of Comparte Gallery, then I wouldn’t have had the space to blossom the way I have. Also, Miguel Falcon of Logan Ave Galeria, for giving my paintings a frequent wall to display on, and Jessie & Celi at Libelula Books & Co. for also giving my artworks a temporary home.

Website: https://wendyispainting.wixsite.com/wendygraciafineart

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wendyispainting/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/wendyispainting/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/wendyispainting/

Other: I also have a Linktree linking to some other published interviews: https://linktr.ee/wendyispainting