Jessica Alazraki
Medium: Painting Studio Location: Artist Studios at 43-01 22nd Street - Studio# 423 43-01 22nd Street Phone: 917-4395775 Email: jessicaalazraki@icloud.com Website:: www.jessicaalazrakiart.com Artist Bio: Jessica Alazraki Biography I was born and raised in Mexico City and have a bachelors degree in Communications from Universidad Anahuac. I worked as a creative in advertising right after finishing high school and moved to New York City in 1998 where I worked at various advertising agencies that specialized in targeting the U.S. Hispanic market. At the same time, I was studying at the Parsons School in which I earned a degree in Graphic Design. I also entered other CE graphic design programs at various schools in NYC including the School of Visual Arts and Cooper Union. After becoming a Mom, I quit my job but continued to work as a visual artist. In 2008, I first discovered my passion for drawing and painting. Since then, I have worked with live models helping me to expand my knowledge of anatomical drawing and figure painting. After my first year of studies for a Masters Degree in Figurative Painting (2015-2016) at the New York Academy of Art, I have been preparing my self-directed body of work that represents my artistic interest, my personality and contributes to creating social awareness. I have exhibited my paintings in the U.S.A. in over 30 groups shows including several Galleries in Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island, Poughkeepsie, California, and Philadelphia as well as in Sotheby's Auction House in NY and various museums like the Attleboro Arts Museum in Massachusetts and the New Britain Museum of America Art. I had one Solo Show in NYC and have participated in more than five group shows in Mexico City and Puebla, Mexico. I have also been teaching young girls???from middle school to high school???with drawing in a private setting. In 2015, I received "The Award of Excellence" from Huntington Arts Council. In 2017, I was given an "Honorable Mention Award" by the Barrett Art Center at the Circle Foundation for the Arts as well as the prize for second place at the Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition. In 2018, I was given "The Passion Project Award" and "Artdex Award." I am a member of the American Federation of the Arts and most Museums in New York. Artist Statement: The paintings depict portraits of Latinx immigrants. Colorful pattern plastic tablecloths are used as a canvas. Integrated into the compositions, they serve as imagery, but also as a material metaphor. The theme of tables reminds the viewer of shared experiences, and of humanizing an invisible community. The paintings are trimmed with a colorful border and hung unframed. The pieces insist on their roots and function as the art of the people and carry a pictorial narrative. It is a process that references the tension between folk art and Western painting and is a useful metaphor for the duality of immigrant life. All images and text copyright Jessica Alazraki