Plaster exudes pure possibility for Monica Curiel. Both versatile and tactile, it allows the Denver-based artist to mold her memories and Mexican-American heritage into poignant abstract works. Minimalist linen whites, inky blacks and creamy taupes that Curiel tints with coffee grounds help draw the emotions her pieces capture into focus. First, the artist applies plaster onto wood panels. She then lets it dry just enough to form pliable layers that can be folded into dynamic shapes. “You have to understand how this material behaves and know how light and shadows will hit certain angles,”
In another homage to him, Curiel’s latest foray into functional design was inspired by his love of music: Her recent light fixtures, chairs and decor items evoke the ornamentation of mariachi garments. Wherever her practice may lead, she remains grounded in a sense of herencia, or heritage: The love and lessons handed down from her parents, but also the inheritance she’s building through her work. “I think about my pieces as objects I will leave behind on this Earth,” Curiel says. Plaster, after all, retains the touch of her fingers, preserving every movement, mark and memory.
Words by Monique Mcintosh for Luxe Magazine
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