Originally from Mexico City, Jessica Alazraki is based in New York City. Her oil paintings are a celebration of Latinx life in the U.S. and aim to highlight family values. Narratives are scenes of ordinary life. Bright colors and decorative patterns are very characteristic of Jessica's work.

Website: www.jessicaalazrakiart.com

What initially compelled you to pursue art?

I just fell in love with painting the second I tried it. I knew it was my calling and I would devote my life to it. This was later in life, after many years in advertising working as a creative in a few agencies that targeted to the U.S. Hispanic market.

Who or what in your life influences your practice the most?

Art history fascinates me, and [I have] admired different painters at different times, from the masters figurative painters, like Rembrandt or Velázquez, to more modern artists, like van Gogh, Gauguin and mostly Matisse. I love the Austrian artists, like Klimt, Schiele and Kokoschka. I respond to oil paint, color and texture, and when I see a remarkable work that moves me, it stays in my brain. I borrow the narratives we find in art history and recreate them in my style.

Contemporary artists have a tremendous influence, since I follow what happens in art. Whenever I see an outstanding work that resonates, it adds to the list.

Thematically, I use my experience as a Mexican immigrant, my experience as a parent living with kids and my dog and nostalgia from how I grew up and where I come from.

What do you feel is the key concept that connects your works?

I have a specific style that’s very unique to me. The way I handle the paint and use of color is very bold; I bring character to every portrait, including the dogs, which is my favorite part of the painting. Thematically, I paint pictures of Latinx families. My images are all in the foreground, and I flatten the space; I include decorative patterns and add texture as I build the paintings. Everything is direct and raw; I don’t plan or sketch beforehand.

Tell us about a moment that ultimately made you look at your art and/or practice differently.

I became excited when I started painting tablecloths. That was my exhibition in 2021. I had a solid, unique body of work that I was proud of. Since then, I have grown, and my paintings have become better and bolder.

What does your art give you that nothing else can?

It’s my passion—I love painting, and I want to spend and devote my life to it. It’s the process of creating the work that is incredible gratifying.