The Edition

Spotlight on: Amelia Rosales

Amelia was an early pioneer in the RedDot Culture and it has been amazing to watch her progress as an artist. From her billowy watercolor illustrations to her freeform torn collages, every piece is thoughtful, unique and striking. We sat down with her to talk about inspirations, her dinner table and her love of her home country, Colombia.

Are you a full time or part time artist?

I am a full time artist.

Amelia at work

What is your favorite medium?

Watercolor and Photoshop. I love combining modern and old techniques. I feel really lucky I live in an era that technology is so advanced that you´re allowed to do this.

When did you start creating?

I started creating in 2005 at the tender age of 16.

What is common misconception about contemporary artists?

A common misconception about contemporary artists is that they don´t know how to draw and paint and have to resort to conceptualizing everything.

What is the most surprising thing you have discovered about collectors?

That they care more about the story than the aesthetics.

What is your most unorthodox source of inspiration?

Instagram.

What is your advice for people who want to start collecting art?

You should only buy it if you fall in love with it and can´t stop thinking about it. Infatuations fade quickly.

What is the last piece you bought and loved?

A screenprint by Cartagena Grafica, a couple from Cartagena who are both graphic designers. The screenprint depicts my beloved hometown Cartagena, Colombia. It´s a reminder of who I am and who I am not all because of this city.

"Silletero antioqueno" by Cartagena Grafica

What is your first thought when you walk into a gallery?

My first thought is what story does this person want to tell us? What do you want us to know about you and what are you trying to keep hidden?

If you didn't live in San Francisco, where would you live?

New York City. The city that showed me who I really am.

What is the last great art show you saw?

The last great art show I saw was a Gustav Klimt exhibit at the Legion of Honor in San Francisco. I had been looking at those paintings ever since I was 15 and seeing them in person really did something to me. Nobody captures the female beauty like Klimt. It´s so real, beautiful and full of imperfections all at the same time.

Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I

What artist (living or dead) would you...follow on Instagram?

Frida Kahlo. She would be so proud of the Me Too Movement. I really wish she was alive to see it.

...have drinks with?

I would love to have a drink with Marina Abramovic. I'd love to hear what she has to say regarding human frailty, relationships, love and the human condition. Salvador Dali and Banksy would add just the right amount of controversy, Yayoi Kusama because I'd love to get inside her head for at least a few minutes. Kara Walker, Jenny Saville and Do-Ho Suh, I'd like to pick their brains about their work and their views on life.

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