About the Artist
Olivia Sifóntes
Born in El Tigre, Anzoátegui State, in the middle of the Venezuelan oil bonanza, at an early age moved to Caracas in search for new opportunities being provided by the growth derived from our newfound richness.
Became a mother at 20 and kept my studies until obtaining my Journalism Bachelors from the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, while at the same time graduating of being a mother four times (1964, 1965, 1969 and 1972). Beginning of the 70's saw my first real efforts in painting as I started taking oil painting classes with my first exhibition happening in 1975. I went on to do a master’s degree in Education, honours in audio-visuals, at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Az., All this time maintaining and enhancing my techniques with the new views of American indigenous art forms.
I moved back to Venezuela in the early 80's and as I progressed in my career as well as in my art. In 1985, I participated in a collective exhibition at the Colegio de Contadores Publicos in Caracas, Venezuela. In 1997, made a move to reside in Tampa Bay, Florida where I currently exercise my retirement accompanied by my paintings and art forms, as well as caring for my great-grandchildren.
In 2012 I exhibited at Cultural Dynamics Specialists (CDS) in Tampa Bay. Also in December 2012 I exhibited at the FAS in Tampa Bay.
In 2014, I donated a painting to Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy (Duchenne), Miami, Fl., I also made a contribution with one of my pieces to the Art Council of Hillsborough County.
During the” La Mujer Exhibition” in July 2014, and thereafter, at the Feathered Serpent Gallery, St. Petersburg, Fl. I exhibited with a group of Latin American women artists some of my Papier Maché pieces.
Throughout the last part of 2014 and beginning some of my work will be exhibited at the Carolwood Community Center, Tampa, Fl., during the “Teachers and Students” Exhibition.
Artist Says:
Initially I started with oil paint, but as it took so long to dry and I am a very anxious person, I changed to acrylic, with some attempts in water colour. I started painting flowers, landscapes, houses, attempted doing faces, but today I have defined myself for a combination of everything nature provides us, in objects, colours, beauty, things...
My work has been inspired by Latin American indigenous art forms, Australian aboriginal art, Huguette Caland, Paul Kleen, and others.
I do not look for my work to be analised as a masterpiece of art or in itself an intellectual effort.. It is just the expression of colours and forms, and the enjoyment of those moments where the pencil or the brush position is invented, the materials and the hues.
MY MATERIALS
I do my work with mostly recycled materials. Is an intent of making objects in a disorganised fashion, where figures, colours, lines, dots, and many other little things are observed.
In my work I have used: paper, cardboard, canvas, blue jeans clothes or any other piece of cloth to make the base for a painting; in addition, I use acrylic paint, colored markers, paper towel rolls, toilet paper, papier maché dough made from recycled paper and cardboard with white glue, leaves, and many small things that contribute to the piece I am developing, which I think can be enjoyable to the viewer.
Books and Writings
Books:
"Destrucción de un País II", Editorial Voces de Hoy, Miami, 2021
"El Ruiseñor y la Acequia", Editorial Voces de Hoy, Miami, 2019
"Fernando", unpublished, 2012
“Destrucción de un País”. Editorial Voces de Hoy, Miami, 2009
“Caminando sin parar”. Quito Publicidad, Bogota, Colombia. 2008
Writings:
La Gaceta, Tampa, Fl
Revista entre Lineas, Miami, Fl.
