Karen STAROSTA GILINSKI
STATEMENT
“Close UP” Mixed Media / Photography Collection
Art allows me to turn my attention away from everything else; it is my passion. I express my passion through “mixed media and unique image photography.” My artwork is all about showing the illusions generated by the magic of lighting contrast, color, textures, layout and composition.
I skillfully take close up pictures of the model, which in turn becomes an actual art piece. Amazingly enough, photography, lighting, layout, and composition allows me to create a visual illusion. The CLOSE-UP photograph, as an “extension” of the artwork, is very different from the actual art piece. It looks like an improved version of the original art piece as it incorporates the use of shadow and light.
Each photograph is made by taking a picture of the art piece from different angles. Each angle is a combination of contrast, vibrant colors, textures, and magic. The photograph is a unique portion of the artwork and the place where the CLOSE UP originates.
BIOGRAPHY
I was born in Minnesota, USA to a Venezuelan/American father, who is a Neurologist, and an Argentinean mother, who is a Speech Therapist. I was raised in Caracas, Venezuela. When I turned 18, I decided to move to the USA, to start my career as an artist.
In 2001, during my first college year in Venezuela at the Metropolitan University, I decided to move back to the US as the Chavez government was creating political unrest. I was looking for a successful future as a student in a politically stable country, so I moved to Miami to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in Fine Arts in Graphic Design. I graduated with Honors in 2004.
Leaving my family behind in Venezuela was hard, but rewarding, as learning to live on my own was definitely the best way to understand myself and really focus on all the strong feelings I needed to express, in order to create a career as an artist. My first art pieces convey feelings of loneliness and lack of identity. As I developed my career as an artist, I gained more confidence, and now I am at a different stage in my life. My art now portrays happiness and celebrates life, so it now transmits positive vibes wherever it goes.
As the daughter of medical practitioners, I can say that my artwork was definitely influenced by their jobs. I learned to understand the “REAL problems” human beings face and, therefore, I learned to enjoy life in whatever form it comes. My upbringing definitely influences my artwork and allows me to reflect and portray happiness.
EDUCATION
Ai Miami International University of Art & Design, Miami, FL
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Graphic Design
Graduate Cum Laude
Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, FL
Graphic Design
Honor Student
Accademia Del Giglio, Florence, Italy
Certificate in Drawing & Painting Techniques
Graphotech, Caracas, Venezuela
Diploma in Computer Graphic Design
PRIZES:
2nd Place out of 40 contestants at The 10th Annual Brickell Key Day Art Show May 5th 2007
INTERVIEWS
WPBT Channel 2 interview for their section: “The Exclusives” May, 2007
http://uvu.channel2.org/PublicSite/Video.aspx?id=499&skin=2
ART RELATED
Summer 2007-2008 (still active)
MOCA Shakers Committee North Miami, FL
Member of the committee in charge of organize and participate in events for the Museum of Contemporary Arts of Miami
More in SPANISH
"A los 8 años fui a Paris, donde empezó mi pasión por el arte y aprendí que al viajar mi arte evoluciona. Más tarde aprendí que se DEBE hacer lo que se siente y decir al momento lo que se piensa. Hoy en día sigo mis aprendizajes."
"Siento y actúo; pienso y digo."
"Muestro mi arte de manera tangible y de manera fotográfica. La fotográfica es la extensión de la tangible."
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