Felipe Gomez is an Art of Austin artist! Read his interview to learn more about him and his work!
Felipe Gomez
AoA – How long have you been an Austin based artist and how did you find your way here?
Felipe – I have been living in Austin for about ten years now, I moved here for university after being in Houston, and coming from Colombia in 2001.
AoA – When did you realize that you were an artist?
Felipe – I think I realized that I loved creating when I was taking a sculpture class in high school. My teacher Mr. Viol was very passionate about sculpture, and inspired me to let myself go when it came to creating. I think that was the moment that I realized that sculpting, and art put me in my happy place. I could sculpt for hours on end—and be as content as I’d ever like to be.
AoA – Can you speak to your art training?
Felipe – Besides taking as many art classes in highschool, and some in college—I am pretty much self-taught. I got a bachelors of science in Digital Media innovation—so I didn’t go to art school. I taught myself how to graphic design because I always wanted to have my own clothing company/brand—like Obey. Began working at a screen-print shop to learn, and just went off from there. I taught myself how to oil paint through youtube, and when it comes to my wood—I found a laser at the university and taught myself how to use it along with a CNC.
AoA – Where do you find inspiration?
Felipe – Most of my recent work has had some sort of cultural commentary behind it, so I’d saw that current events, and the state of the world is a big inspiration. I love people,the way that we carry ourselves, and things of the mind — so I also love gestural/figurative works.
AoA – What is your work concerned with?
Felipe – Like I was saying, my work shines a light on current events and things happening around the world. I try to captivate my audience while also telling a story about something important happening in the present time. My current works explore the heightened perception of the human body. I try to entice the viewer beyond physical aesthetics by embedding subtle hints of social commentary within the building fabrics of the works. A mix of realism, surrealism, and geometric lines with a dash of philosophical and thought-provoking commentary to aid the healing of the world and the human soul. If someone was to ask themes that I favor, it would have to be oppression, showing people’s inner beauty, authenticity, and using my environmental science studies to bring awareness to our environment.
AoA – What are your preferred medium(s)?
Felipe – I would say that it is toss up in between Oil paint, and wood. There is something very special about putting brush to canvas though, I love the physical act of painting. One day I will combine both!
AoA – Can you talk a little about your creative processes?
Felipe – Sure, so it depends on which medium we are talking about. Both consist of me trying to nail the concept/idea for the piece. I try to write as many words as I can in regards to really get down to the core emotions that I am trying to convey. After that, I constantly think about ideas and sketch them out on procreate. I find myself closing my eyes a lot and trying to visualize what I want to paint or create next.
AoA – Do you have any feelings towards Digital Art versus traditional mediums?
Felipe – I mean, I’ve never been a digital artist—but thats bc it is a whole trade in its own. I think that people can create amazing digital pieces, and the skills transfer from digital to other mediums and vice-versa.
AoA – Who are some artists that you look to?
Felipe – I really enjoy Hopare’s work, El Mac, Miles Toland, Gabriel Schama, and Curiot but honestly those are the big ones. I really, and actually look to my contemporaries in the local art scene. I really enjoy Erk Ross, Jair Pineros, Uloang, Brittanypaintsalot, happyhappy James, Ilya Tinker, Kyle Saldana, JC Amorrortu, Chris Bohlin, Chance Roberts, Molly Gardner, Zach bobkoff, Gabriel Portillo, and probably one of my biggest motivating factors is my studio mate — Buddy Pajak. Basically my artists homies are the people that really motivate me and keep me doing my thing.
AoA – If you could own 1 piece from a living artist, who would it be?
Felipe – Damn, I’d love a piece from Cutiot, Miles Toland or Chris Bohlin.
AoA – Big question. What do you feel the role of art is in the world?
Felipe – I think our role is to lie in between the social classes. To create social commentary and always up the level of what is being said or discussed. Art is here to make a positive change and move society forward. Without art, life would be a bleak and dark thing.
AoA – What else do you enjoy besides making art?
Felipe – Man, I love exercising. I love playing soccer, rock-climbing outdoors, cooking delicious food with friends, Kayaking, Deep-diving and practicing my breath holds, surfing, summiting mountains/14’ners, road-trips, of course traveling, and just chasing hotsprings/waterfalls—I love being in nature.
AoA – Where can we find your work? Do you have any shows planned for the future?
Felipe – You can find me on instagram @felipegomezart or on my website at felipegomezart.com. I do have some shows lined up! I am one of the organizing members of @_unknowncollective, and we are currently planning our next show. It is called, “No Borders—a show by immigrants” (Curated by Jair Pineros, @inkcolor and I @felipegomezart) Featuring hand-picked and impactful work by local artists who tell their story of being an immigrant in this country through their art or have direct roots to the immigrant diaspora. The event will feature an open-air art gallery, live painters, muralists, music and vendors. All supporting the local culture of Austin art.
After that, I am extremely excited for a show that I will be a part of with the opening show to @socomodern art gallery, a new gallery opening in South Congress. The line-up is filled with global artists such as Banksy, Obey, Sandra Chevrier, Mars1, Hopare, Faig Ahmed, Pez, David Chong Lee, Keith Haring, Ron English, Kaws and yours truly! It is a dream come true.
AoA – Any final advice for all the artists reading out there?
Felipe – Keep pushing through, no matter what happens—if art is what makes you happy in life, pursue it as hard as you can. We are living in one of the best times to be an artist. Be true to yourself, others, and just create. Everything else will follow.
Connect with Felipe!