BIO

Gwen Haleola Olmos (b. 1998, Honolulu) is a traditional artist with a focus on painting and fiber. During her childhood, drawing had been a constant in her life. This led her to receive a BFA in Studio Art at the University of North Texas. She is currently a first-year MFA student at the University of Nevada, Reno, expanding her art practice inside of an interdisciplinary program.

ARTIST STATEMENT

While I currently identify most with being an oil painter, I have also become involved with fiber art. In painting and fiber, my initial interest in the figure involved the subtle nuances in what makes an individual whole—this has manifested itself into an exploration of relating a singular subject to its surrounding environment. To describe a subject, I emphasize the illusionistic quality of representational art while maintaining the definite nature of the mediums I use. My aesthetics are developed alongside post-impressionist styles and 19th century verismo painters. I utilize an unnaturally high chroma palette when working with oil paint and fiber, having a focus on light and impasto when describing a subject.

It fascinates me to ruminate on what makes something itself, whether through color, objecthood, or the context in which something may exist. In a number of my art pieces, objects are often seen interacting with a subject. I believe that certain objects and forms exist inside of an allegorical framework and in turn are able to imbue figures on several referential levels. With allegory in mind, my art seeks to combine my own distinct perspective alongside what has come before. It is in this method that I explore the hidden relationships between the material world and people.

Recently, I have also been exploring the concept of artificial still lifes and their place within the simulacra. I categorize aquariums as an artificial still life as it is a structure that is manmade yet mimics the natural environment. Mimicry of the natural environment while taking into account the audiences’ role of experience (for instance, a man-designed coral reef that opens toward the viewing glass) is a theme I am invested in creating within atypical spaces. Currently, I am experimenting with painting and fiber to convey this theme and discovering how this relates to traditional gallery spaces in general. My ultimate goal is to question artificial space and environment in relation to how we experience the world through our bodies. From unique features, to the surrounding subjective space, I continue to search for the components of natural essence through the art I create.