EXHIBITIONS
2023, Art Lab: A Collective Expressive Arts Exhibition of 12 International Women, ArtLab Gallery, Ibiza Spain
2023, Placita Latina Hispanic Heritage Month Market Exhibition, Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University
2023, Rooted in Our Latinx Heritage, Decatur, GA
2023, Nuestras Huellas, Marietta, GA
2023, Small Changes, Decatur Arts Alliance, Decatur, GA
2023, M2R Fence Gallery, Cobb County, GA
2022, Celebrating Our Collective Culture: A Latinx Artist Showcase, Decatur, GA
2022, ArtPop Upcycled Fashion Show, Charlotte, NC
2021, What Makes Us Who We are: A Celebration of Latinx Artists, Decatur, GA
2021, National Juried Art Show, Cultural Arts Council, Douglasville, GA
2021, M2R Fence Gallery, Cobb County, GA
2020-2021, ArtPop Street Gallery, Atlanta, GA
2020, Epiphany Art Gallery, Decatur, GA
2020, National Juried Art Show, Cultural Arts Council, Douglasville, GA
2020, M2R Fence Gallery, Cobb County, GA
2001, Muestra Pictorica Familiar, Galeria Illescas, Cuenca, Ecuador
ART FESTIVALS
2023, Medlock Part Art Studio Stroll, Decatur, GA
2023, Hyde Park Fine Arts Festival, Tampa, FL
2023, Inman Park Festival, Atlanta, GA
2023, Decatur Arts Festival, Decatur, GA
2022, Medlock Part Art Studio Stroll, Decatur, GA
2022, Chastain Park Arts Festival, Atlanta, GA
2022, Old Fourth Ward Park Arts Festival, Atlanta, GA
2022, Piedmont Park Arts Festival, Atlanta, GA
2022, Decatur Arts Festival, Decatur, GA
2021, Chastain Park Arts Festival, Atlanta, GA
MEDIA
2022, featured in Decaturish publication, Decatur, GA
2020, featured in ARTSATL publication
GRANTS
2020, The Judith Alexander Foundation Relief Fund for Georgia Visual Artists
ABSTRACT PAINTER
“I’m seeking to capture the mystery and healing power of the natural world.”
Being in nature gives us a deep healing tranquility, a true sense of hope and a powerful, spiritual renewal. Yet, this natural experience is a complex mystery felt internally and seen only through colors, textures, shadows, reflections, flowers, leaves and tiny details. In my work I explore these perceptions of nature.
Immersing myself in this mystery, I paint mindfully and follow where the marks and colors lead me, listening to my intuition, highlighting the interesting and building on what emerges. My paintings unfold on their own as I explore the hidden, abstract features of nature.
These expressions send positive energy into the world, sharing Mother Nature’s love, light, peace and hope. I hope that my work brightens someone’s day, elevates and lightens the energy of a space or simply gives someone a chance to take moment to pause and breathe.
ABOUT
After 25+ years in the graphic design, Cristina has mastered directing, designing and evaluating visual work, working with color, composition, line, shape and texture.
She grew up as a member of a large family of working artists with generations of painters where her art practice was nurtured from childhood. Cristina’s love for art also manifested itself through a life-time of study of art history and visiting museums around the world.
Now, her life experiences, her family’s background in art, her graphic design experience and her knowledge of art history and contemporary art converge in her own work, allowing her to capture her point of view and to share her voice.
Born into a large family of artists, and showing a strong artistic talent at an early age, Cristina began taking art classes and painting as a child. In college her love of art grew, as she majored in Graphic Design with a minor in Art History.
Her early influences were family, where family gatherings included family art sessions, with everyone feverishly working elbow to elbow at a table full of art supplies, and family dinners frequently ended with the artists drawing caricatures of each other on the napkins. Later it also included family art exhibitions with four generations showing work.
This family art tradition began with her grandfather, Julio Montesinos Malo, from Ecuador. His work included spearheading a 1930s Ecuadorian underground political magazine, featuring many of his own caricatures and stories. Eventually he moved into graphic design and then into fine art, painting to the end of his life. Julio told bedtime stories of the great masters and passed on his fervor for visual expression to his children and grandchildren, encouraging them to pursue some form of visual art.
For over 25 years, Cristina has created award-winning visual and interactive experiences in print, identity, and digital design. For the last 12 years, as the owner of her own design firm, she has worked at the creative intersection of visual design, interaction design, and user experience. She has designed and directed websites, mobile apps, identity systems, print collateral, ecommerce systems, advertising, infographics and illustrations for hundreds of companies, from large enterprises to emerging startups.
Along with her long graphic design career, Cristina has also moved into fine art. Using her thoughtful approach, combined with meticulous skills, she explores the beauty of shapes and colors in the details of the natural world. Her passion for fine art is evident in her work and personality. She’s excited to follow the path of her family tradition and experience the world of fine art.