One to Watch
Reni Soares’ on Color and Emotion
Reni Soares’ uses vibrant color and fine line to create striking Pop art portraits and smoky abstracts. Each portrait uses simple visual elements and composition to accentuate the simultaneous power and vulnerability of the sitter. Reni’s own emotions and experiences wash over her portraits, drenching each piece with human feeling that manifests in monochrome. Her abstracts eschew that sharpness, embracing instead something metaphysical, rooted in the natural world but also untethered, floating beyond our own sense of the real or permanent. Reni Soares, having exhibited across the United States and showcased work at the Other Art Fair, is August’s One to Watch.
Tell us about who you are and what you do. What’s your background?
My name is Reni, and I’m a painter based in San Diego, CA, originally from the Cape Verde Islands—a small, vibrant country off the west coast of Africa. Much of my childhood was spent creating and exploring outdoors. Being raised on an island surrounded by nature has deeply influenced the work I create today.
I’m a self-taught artist and have been creating for as long as I can remember. I started drawing at a very young age before transitioning into painting. However, growing up in a third-world country, I didn’t see many examples of artists building sustainable careers, so pursuing art professionally didn’t feel like a possibility at the time. A few years ago, I decided to change that narrative for myself. After years of treating art as a hobby, I made the choice to devote more time and energy to turn this lifelong passion into a career. It’s been a journey of stepping into my calling while honoring where I come from and the stories I want to share through my work.
What does your work aim to say? What are the major themes you pursue in your work?
I create both abstract and figurative paintings that are rich in color, emotion, and narrative. My abstract works are inspired by nature, often featuring fluid, dreamscape compositions that reflect a deep sense of tranquility and harmony. My figurative work focuses on women and draws from personal experiences and identity, offering an intimate look into themes of resilience and reflection. For example, the piece titled “Embracing My Inner Child” is from my latest collection, “Shedding Layers.” This collection is inspired by my journey navigating hair loss and being diagnosed with alopecia. Through this collection, I explore the complex emotions tied to this journey, moments of despair and reflection, while also celebrating hair as a powerful symbol of beauty, strength, and identity.
Can you walk us through your process for creating a work from beginning to end?
My process often shifts depending on the style I’m working in. My abstract pieces are usually more intuitive, while my figurative works require more planning and intention before I begin painting. Most of the time, it starts with brainstorming and sketching ideas in my sketchbook, gathering visual references, and selecting a color palette that aligns with the feeling I want the piece to convey. I usually stretch and prep my own canvases, which is an important part of grounding myself before I start. Once I’m ready to paint, that’s where the magic happens. I plug in my headphones, disconnect from the world around me, and fully immerse myself in the process. This is when I let go and allow the painting to take shape, trusting my intuition to guide me. Depending on the piece, I’ll often step back to reflect, checking in to see if it’s aligned with the initial vision or if something needs to shift.
Who are your biggest influences and why?
There are many artists I admire, including Emily Mason, Helen Frankenthaler, Kerry James Marshall, and Toyin Ojih Odutola. However, Sam Gilliam is someone who deeply inspires me. I’m a huge fan of his work and how he continually pushed the boundaries of art-making, always exploring and expanding the possibilities within his practice. He was an innovator who never stopped reinventing his approach, and his “drape paintings” left a lasting mark on art history. His fearlessness in experimenting and commitment to letting his work evolve over time remind me to keep challenging myself and to trust my own creative path.
How do you hope viewers respond to your works? What do you want them to feel?
I hope my work offers viewers a moment to slow down and reflect. I want it to move people and resonate with them on a personal level, allowing them to connect with their own feelings and experiences. Some of the pieces I’ve created have helped me heal and process my emotions, and I hope my work can do the same for others. Above all, I want viewers to feel a sense of peace and to leave feeling uplifted. I hope my work brings joy and sparks something within them, whether it’s a memory, a feeling, or simply a moment of quiet in their day. I want it to offer a space to disconnect from the noise of the outside world and tune into themselves and the present moment.
How does your work comment on current social and political issues?
While my work doesn’t directly comment on specific political or social issues, it naturally engages with broader themes of identity, representation, and women’s empowerment. As a woman of color, I’ve often experienced what it’s like to be the minority both in daily life and within the art world. These lived experiences inform the work I create. Representation is important to me, and I strive to reflect that in my art by depicting women who look like me and who carry stories similar to my own. Through exploring themes of identity, resilience, and the nuances of lived experience, I hope my work contributes to a broader dialogue about visibility and the importance of seeing ourselves reflected in the spaces around us.
If you couldn’t be an artist, what would you do?
This is a hard question to answer since I have so many interests and hobbies! I love anything related to art and design, and at one point, I even considered going to school for interior design. When I was younger, I loved performing at local events. Any chance I got, I would hop on stage to sing or dance, which always brought me so much joy. So if I couldn’t be a painter, I’d likely be doing something creative within design, or maybe I’d be on a stage, singing and dancing my butt off.
Do you prefer to work with music or in silence?
Music, for sure! I’m a huge music lover and listen to pretty much everything and anything. Music has this unique ability to transport me into a different world, which helps me let go and fully immerse myself in the process. When I’m painting, I love putting on my headphones and zoning out. It’s my way of creating a bubble where it’s just me, the music, and the canvas.
