Los Rostros Ocultos/ The Hidden Faces

In Los Rostros Ocultos The Hidden Faces Contreras' work explores the relationships between tradition, identity and pop culture, incorporating techniques like acrylic, oil and collage into her pieces. Growing up in the United States and Mexico, provided her a rich palette of imagery, as well as that from other cultures. As in most of her work, there is an element of nostalgia present in its layers, sometimes reminiscing about childhood or adolescence or even a certain culture and its traditions. 
The use of collaged material such as origami paper, magazine and comic book cut-outs, to name a few, provide a palette of colors and textures for the subject's surroundings. As these pieces are worked, the patterns and colors of the printed material come together in a sort of puzzle in which the painted figures emerge. The use of materials is both calculated and serendipitous, leading her to create unusual cultural combinations thus providing spectators with a richer interpretation.

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About the Artist:
Angelica Contreras was born in Whittier, California and moved to Guadalajara, Jalisco at an early age. There, she began studying printmaking at the Instituto Cabañas as well as in other local artist workshops. Later on, she attended the University of Guadalajara, receiving a B.A. in art in 2008 and a Masters in Art Education in 2016. Her artwork has been shown in exhibitions in Mexico and in the U.S.. She is a member of Colectivo Synapsis, a group of Latino artists that focus on social justice projects that impact communities in Southeastern Wisconsin.She currently lives and works in Madison, WI, where she continues to create and showcase her art. 

View Contreras' Recent Feature in Madison Magazine!