Born in Peru in 1957, Monica immigrated to Canada in 1976, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science and Master in Landscape Architecture. She also has a Fine Art and an Advanced Painting Certificate from Emily Carr University of Art and Design.
Monica’s distinctive style of textural painting, in which she applies thick layers of acrylic paint and medium with palette knives, results in a 3-D effect, suggesting organic energy, flow and movement. At the same time, she uses multiple glazes of colour to produce contrast and harmony, creating lightness, fluidity, and ephemeral atmospheric effects.
Monica is represented by the following galleries; Ukama, The Kube and Matticks in Vancouver. Her paintings have been exhibited at numerous galleries in BC. Her work is in private collections in the US, Canada, Mexico, Australia, Japan, Germany, UK, New Zealand, Peru, China and Europe.
“I am constantly exploring new mediums and techniques to incorporate as part of my dynamic canvases, which create nuanced textured surfaces that are often inspired by natural elements. My work is unique in the way I combine texture and washes. I apply multiple layers of coloured gel mediums, mixed with textural elements, each partially revealed to create a 3D effect. I use texture to blur the line between painting and sculpture, inviting the viewer to touch them and evoke an emotional response. I also use multiple glazes of colour to produce contrast and harmony, creating lightness, fluidity, and ephemeral atmospheric effects.
I use an earthy quiet palette echoing the colour found in metallic patinas, Raku pottery and ancient glass. To accomplish this above, I use intense turquoises, luminous teals and yellows, haunting blues, earthy ochres and Siena’s, deep burgundies and mysterious charcoals and blacks. I also use metallic paints and foils to accent textures to give my paintings more luminosity.
Passionate about the environment, in my art, I make use of repurposed, upcycled and natural materials including textiles, sand, rust, silver, copper and aluminum foils.”
