Mariana Cordoba

About

Hello, my name is Mariana Cordoba, and I am a Colombian-American abstract artist
from Miami, FL. I currently live in London, and my primary artistic focus is to create colorful,
textured paintings that embody the formal properties of art, namely layer, line, and texture.
I view painting as the visual expression of my own language; essentially, it’s my own
form of handwriting. I view the canvas as a sheet of paper I’m doodling on, one I rotate
frequently in order to view various perspectives of it. I generally begin painting from the bottom
and work my way up.

Symbols are very significant in my practice. I draw inspiration from all kinds of symbols
from any point in history, including the present. My practice even requires me to recall symbols
from early childhood. Doodling unveils opportunities to insert these symbols, each of which
carries a very personal meaning for me. Repetition is essential in my practice. I enjoy engaging in the repetitive aspect of my doodles, which allows me to see that the possibilities are endless and that virtually anything can
become a symbol.

I have a specific system I implement to develop my paintings that involves thin layers
that slowly build up to thicker layers. I am passionate about exploring the materiality of paint.
I’ve recently gravitated toward utilizing really small brushes, such as makeup brushes, to
incorporate smaller marks and focus on minute details. I also enjoy experimenting with various
materials in my paint, such as beeswax. My most recent paintings generally read as landscapes–
often possessing a striking metropolis-like feel to them.

While painting, I combine a variety of brushstroke styles on canvas and tap into my
mind-body connection to determine my technique choices. One might notice that my art tends to
leave traces of earlier iterations of themselves–because I paint and then remove paint from each
canvas during the creative process. I love the mystery of what a painting can be and am
fascinated by paint, color, the process of layers, and how, through a slow buildup–one can create
beauty. Both everyday people and objects with compelling texture, depth, or color inspire me.
Although the creative process is central to my focus, it is essential to me that each piece evokes a
discernible feeling when viewed.