Maria Esparza
I work primarily with oil pastels, which I’m drawn to due to their minimal and accessible nature, to create colorful abstract compositions.
An important pillar of my art is the concept of letting go. Cultivating a practice driven by specific ideas or motives proved to be overwhelming for me, so I began leaning into intuition to form my works. I create art very intuitively from start to finish, beginning with a color that I feel drawn to in that moment and responding to each subsequent mark to build up the work, often resulting in very gestural abstract works. Throughout the creative process, I welcome unexpected twists and consciously let go of controlling thoughts, preconceptions, and judgments; in this way, my practice is heavily defined by process and less so by any specific idea or result.
I believe art is innately pure. It is an authentic visual trail we leave behind; I am satisfied with the idea of my artwork being a vehicle through which two souls can connect. I don’t seek immediate feedback; rather I hope that my artwork provokes a genuine emotional connection for any viewer at any point in time.
