"Am I just a product of my culture, my experiences, and my sex?": an interview with Marcella Colavecchio
Didn’t you love the abstract, red-and-orange curves of the painting featured in our January issue? That masterpiece was “Seated Woman” by Marcella Colavecchio.
Marcella recently took some time to talk with us about how her work intersects with mental health, and how she embraced the Austin art scene—not to mention how it embraced her.
1. In your artist statement, you explain that your work explores mental health—which makes sense, as you concentrated in Abnormal Psychology at University of Connecticut. Can you share more about how you see the relationship between art and mental health?
Absolutely! My paintings are comprised of figures that are multifaceted, abstracted, and meant to evoke the idea that we’re fragile beings both physically and mentally. I believe that we’re all molded in part by time and our life experiences. The subjects in my work personify the boldness and frailty of consciousness and the depths in which we absorb the human condition.
On a more personal note, all of my work can be seen as a journal entry, the manifestation of ruminations of my own place and purpose in this world. The goal being to capture the power and beauty of sexuality, censorship, and the stigma of societal expectations of the female form. I’ve suffered from body dysmorphia for most of my adult life. Imagine looking at yourself in a fun-house mirror everyday and what that could do to your self worth. At the same time, I’m also seeking answers to larger questions: What defines me as an individual? Am I just a product of my culture, my experiences, and my sex? My work is meant to make the viewer stop and consider their inner voice and suggest that there may be more to us than what we portray on the surface. And ultimately, confront these feelings.
2. You now live and work in Texas—but you grew up in Connecticut. Does the drastic change in environment affect your art at all?
The change in environment was a positive one! Austin has such a robust and inclusive local art scene that embraces the “weird” and “misunderstood.” I always felt like I didn’t quite “fit in” when I lived in Connecticut, nor did I feel encouraged to push my own boundaries, be bold in my work, and really pursue it. I felt like my voice was stifled -- like I was drowning.
Moving to Austin freed me. I immediately felt a huge weight lifted off my shoulders. I didn’t have to live by the standards of anyone or anything, but myself. I am more motivated than ever to build a legacy with my work and to show the world who I really am. Thanks to the Austin art scene, I have a place to shine. I have never felt this level of inclusion and support during my time in the northeast.
3. In addition to painting, you sculpt, sketch, and make films. How does working across different mediums affect your art as a whole?
Working in different mediums is really new for me. I’ve been drawing and painting since childhood, so I’ve always considered that my comfort zone. At this stage in my life, I’ve been thinking about my legacy. Specifically, what can I do as an artist to make my work stand out throughout the ages? How do I make my voice significant to a generation of new artists? I realized that artists evolve. I’m really excited by these new mediums, because they’re foreign and difficult -- I like the challenge that they pose to my process. Working in these different mindsets has opened me up to different possibilities on how my work and my message can continue to touch people.
***
View more of Marcella’s work by visiting her Instagram: @marcellaispainting