MELISSA P A C H E C O
530 West 25th Street, New York, NY
A Swiss artist of Costa Rican descent, Melissa Pacheco splits her time between Switzerland and Cape Verde. The African archipelago is an endless source of inspiration for its colors as well as the materials found in nature, such as sand; an element which is always present in Pacheco’s work. Newspapers and tissues are also used to create various textures, as are the back of the brush or paint rollers. Her process involves slow paint application, layer by layer, over the course of several weeks or months. Pacheco regards the canvas as a breathing surface; a source of energy subject to a higher consciousness. For her, painting is akin to a shamanic ritual; caught in a trance, she goes wild; screaming, crying, as if possessed by unknown forces that guide her hand into creating the piece. She is the vessel, not the maker. When she finally attains a state of peace and lets go of the initial idea she had about the painting, the work reaches its purest form. This is why her paintings have no title. It is so that they remain uncorrupted by limiting definitions and continue to expand freely. Pacheco exhibited in Spain, Italy, and Switzerland and her artwork was featured in House & Garden UK and World of Interiors. She spends part of the year on the Cape Verdean island of Santo Antão, where she runs a travel agency with her partner and promotes sustainable local tourism.
V I E W M E L I S S A PA C H E C O O N A G O R A G A L L E RY
Untitled 4, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 47” x 63” $ 2 8 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Untitled 8, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 19.5” x 39”
$ 1 5 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Untitled 3, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 47” x 63” $ 2 8 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Untitled 7, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 15.5” x 15.5” $ 8 5 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Untitled 1, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 47” x 39” $ 2 2 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Untitled 9, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 19.5” x 39”
$ 1 5 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Untitled 10, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 39” x 39” $ 2 0 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Untitled 5, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 39” x 39” $ 2 0 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Untitled 11, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 39” x 39” $ 2 0 0 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
Untitled 6, 2021 Acrylic & Mixed Media on Canvas 15.5” x 15.5” $ 8 5 0 – B U Y O N A RT-M I N E.C O M
My artwork is a connection of energies drawing from the colors of nature and my own mood. Splitting my time between Switzerland and Cape Verde, I am inspired by the landscapes of the African islands and the various cultures to which I was exposed growing up. Painting is a cathartic process for me. It can be highly emotional or almost meditative. I see myself as a tool: once I can connect with my higher self, the painting can happen. I allow myself to take my time - sometimes several weeks or months - adding depth to each piece, layer by layer. I start by laying out the colors and later incorporate various materials, such as newspapers, tissues, and sand to add texture. I leave my paintings untitled, so as to preserve the purity of the work and let each viewer discover the meaning for themselves.
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