Jessica Alazraki

in conversation with Victoria J. Fry

jessicaalazrakiart.com jessicaalazraki1

In your paintings, you highlight the culture and values of Latinx families. How have your personal experiences impacted the work you create?

When I moved to New York, I worked in advertising for the US Hispanic Market, which helped me understand the broad cultural differences among Hispanics. Although it was purely commercial, I immediately identified as Latina and started to see myself that way and appreciate that side of my cultural background. I also made very close friends with other Latinos living in NY. Language is the most evident difference and a big way to identify with people with similar backgrounds. When I started painting, I was very comfortable painting Latinos because of their nostalgia and the feeling of being an immigrant. It felt very natural. I also started painting when I was already a parent, and raising my kids is my life, so it was essential to bring that perspective and that value as my central theme.

Why is color such a critical component of your work?

Arts and crafts are an essential inspiration for my work, and Mexico screams color, so it was a very natural choice for me. I wanted the tone of the paintings to be a celebration of the culture, and the color is a device that helps me create that feeling. I also include kids and patterns, so it works well visually.

Has the New York City art community influenced your work? If so, how?

I love New York; it’s home; I feel comfortable and free in New York; I think I found myself here. My work is straightforward and raw, and immediacy is part of life’s rhythm. I am hyper and impatient and love bringing that energy into the paintings. I think the more honest and the more of your DNA translates into the pictures, the stronger the work. Being an independent woman and an immigrant is very welcoming in New York.

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Photo by : Kelvin Bulluck

I feel more and more artists have similar values and interests, and more people are celebrating minorities and women artists. It feels assertive when you are part of a broader discourse.

What advice would you give emerging artists seeking to navigate the art world?

Well, in a way, I still consider myself an emerging artist. It’s hard to give a piece of advice because I feel everyone has a different path and different style, so there is no one way of achieving success. But for the most part, being significantly persistent and hoping for the best but expecting the worst helps to manage expectations and lower frustration. It’s hard to be ambitious yet be okay with not achieving goals immediately. It’s incredibly frustrating and challenging. The most important thing for me is continuing to enjoy the craft, the feeling of being productive, and the privilege of creating.

How do you balance your work as an artist with being a mother? What advice would you give to artists juggling their art careers with parenting?

It’s very personal because everyone has different goals and different situations. Kids are also different; some are easier than others and ages make it very different too. For me now, the most crucial thing that changed my life dramatically was painting from home. When I had an artist studio, I had more limited time to paint. I always had to choose between staying at home with my kids or staying in the studio. Since I paint from home, I can do both more organically and feel much more productive, comfortable, and a better parent. It’s expensive and complicated but life-changing in ways it is hard to explain.

After painting my version of the Last Supper, I moved away from tables and started creating an outdoors series that worked very nicely with the summer season. I am trying to build my brand with a recognizable style that can work in different scenes. I am applying more texture and using the paint to add to the narrative. I am also more intentional in distortions to prioritize emotion versus objective reality. I feel very confident and proud of my work lately.

Playroom, oil on canvas, 60x72in Watching Stars, oil on canvas, 60x72in