Meet Gloria Valdes, “Tarasca”

Gloria in her home studio.

Gloria Valdes, “Tarasca”, a painter from Mexico, realized she was different from the rest at a very young age. Gloria, diagnosed with dyslexia and ADD, in addition to suffering from Osteogenesis Imperfecta – a bone disease impeding her movement gradually quit both work and the physical activities she enjoyed and took refuge in painting.

Gloria Valdes Tarasca displaying her first painting ever created.

Completely self-taught, Gloria began building her own fantasy world from which she receives, and puts back into her work, colors and shapes inspired by her ancestral people, the Tarascans, original inhabitants of Michoacán state, in western Mexico, where she was born, and for whom, and in their honor she has named herself.

Her art, she says, is as much as expression of her personality as it is an opportunity for psychoanalysis. “Painting is a medium through which I become patient and psychoanalyst. One of the things that I enjoy the most is seeing an idea realized in a painting. Its the thrill of knowing that I can create something from nothing”.

Gloria’s vision is to use art to honor and bring to the light the names of many people around the world, who have remarkably contributed to society. Gloria says that while she has been painting as a hobby and exhibiting for many years she was unsure of how to present or promote herself to the public or how to find the right path for her future artistic endeavors.

"Carnivorous hands" 18 x 24" Oil on canvas 1981

“Through EWI I was exposed to a large number of professionals from different fields who gave me both guidance and inspiration to help me launch my business. My greatest accomplishment is that I now have  the confidence to present myself as an artist to the public.”

Gloria worked with EWI mentors and her mentor, Ivana to focus on her niche, learn how to create print reproductions of her original pieces, price and market her work, apply for grants, and design promotional materials.

In addition to Gloria’s portrait work she has done many pieces inspired by social issues and causes that she champions. Some issues that Gloria raises awareness for through her art include environmental conservation, human trafficking and sexual abuse, and cultural anthropology relating to indigenous tribes and identity.

To learn more please visit Gloria’s website:
www.freewebs.com/gloriavaldes/

You can also check out our recent visit to Gloria home studio here.

RSVP for the graduation gala, Women Architects of Change.