The Others
Meet the Others: Marianne Angeli Rodriguez
The Game Changers. The Rule Breakers. The Innovators. Discover some of the fantastic emerging talent showcasing their work at The Other Art Fair.
Filipino-American artist Marianne Angeli Rodriguez is an abstract contemporary painter based in Covington, Louisiana. Due to her parents’ work with the United Nations, Marianne spent 15 years living abroad in West Africa, Central America, Europe & Asia before landing in the US.
She went on to study in New York where she obtained a B.A. in media studies & anthropology from the City University of New York at Hunter College, and a degree in fashion design from FIT. Marianne’s distinguishable vibrant, large-scale contemporary abstract paintings have garnered the artist recognition and are widely collected throughout the US.
Q&A with the Artist
Tell us about who you are and what you do. What is your background?
I’m an abstract expressionist painter and gallery owner based in Covington, Louisiana. My international upbringing is the central influence in my work and how I view the world. My work is an eclectic concoction formed from memories of the vibrant sights, scents, flavors, rituals, stories, and people I’ve encountered. The imagery I create is my interpretation of our complex, multi-layered human experience in both our interconnectedness to one another and to our environment
What are the major themes you pursue in your work?
Liveliness/ vitality, joy, nature, and the tropical motifs reminiscent of my home country, the Philippines, are rendered often in my work.
How did you first get interested in your medium and what draws you to it specifically?
I work with acrylics embellished with various papers and textiles. I love the fast-drying nature of acrylic paint as I sometimes like to work quickly and work in layers. I began incorporating mixed media into my paintings starting with textiles – I had a collection of remnants from my time in fashion design school and the NY garment district. My former neighbor was an interior designer with a really bold and wacky style ala Iris Apfel. She gave me a tons of samples of vintage wallpapers. Over time I began adding these repurposed elements into my paintings to give them a little extra texture and interest.
How has your style and practice changed over the years?
I don’t have a fine art background, so over the years, I’ve learned to improve basic techniques like color mixing. I’ve also been more adventurous about experimenting with new products like spray paint and oil pastel. When I first began, I painted impulsively and jumped from one idea to the other. Experience has taught me to carry through an idea into several works.
Can you walk us through your process? How long do you spend on one work? How do you know when it’s finished?
I prefer to work on 3-5 pieces at a time, depending on the size. I bounce between them giving each one it’s own specific treatment. Intuition will tell me that it’s finished and that is usually when the right balance of composition, color and detailing is achieved. My works aren’t subtle, they scream color, energy and celebration.
What series or project are you working on next?
I’ve just wrapped up a collection of original works titled ‘Safe Passage’, which is launching next week. June 11. We just opened a new gallery location. The collection will be available online and showcased in my gallery.
https://www.instagram.com/p/B35BqNYFh5m/
What is the best advice given to you as an artist?
A high work ethic and gratitude will get you far. Avoid social media as your source of inspiration turn to your own experience of the world around you. Check in with yourself and your process, strive or authenticity at every step.
Shop artwork by Marianne and other trailblazing artists at The Other Art Fair’s Online Studios.
Introducing The Other Art Fair Online Studios, a new online platform offering art lovers around the world access to over 800 Fair artists. The Online Studios will keep our community feeling inspired, engaged, and continue to spread joy through art.
