BIO
Eva Llarena is a multimedia artist that uses bright and colorful materials when tufting, bookmaking, painting, and drawing to spark curiosity, explore material possibilities, and create room for play for herself and her audience. Her upbringing in Miami, Florida, and her experiences teaching children have impacted her color palette and material sensitivity. Color becomes a conduit for emotional resonance and visual poetry.
Eva crafts a whimsical world through her art, with the “misuse” of traditional mediums in order to shape spaces, spark conversation, and inviting all to partake in the joy of creation. Currently based in Miami, FL after spending six years studying and working in Kansas City, Missouri, she graduated with a double major in Fiber and Art History from the Kansas City Art Institute. She has exhibited her work in numerous group shows such as “Light Fuse and Get Away” at Vulpes Bastille, “Tuftcon” at Tuft the World and “Flat Files” at H&R Block Artspace.
STATEMENT
My work is a stream of consciousness. I create playful forms as an invitation for viewers to interact with my work. Through processes such as tufting, sculpture, bookmaking, and installation, I aim to create an exchange that inspires further opportunities for connection and encourages viewers to be creative on their terms.
Imagery and saturated color play a significant role in my work. I use the shapes of hands and feet to remind viewers that they can touch and feel. These notions are paired with heavily textured, bright surfaces that one can touch with their eyes and hands. Drawing and image-making have always been how I create “flow” for myself; I enjoy pushing the boundaries of what materials I can “draw” with or what materials I can “draw” on.
I hope to remind people that art is not subject to one specific box and that any form of expression is valid and essential. Through my interactive installations that bring together color, texture, surface, and touch, I aim to evoke a childlike experience where one can disconnect from the everyday and can escape into an imaginative space.