Tamara Gonzales was born in Madera, CA in 1959 and lives in Brooklyn, NY. She received a Bachelor of Arts from Vermont College ADP in Montpelier, VT in 2005 and an Associate in Applied Science, Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design, New York, NY in 1990. Gonzales’s work has been featured in exhibitions such as The Brooklyn Artists Exhibition, Brooklyn Museum, NY (2024); Orpheus, PS1, Long Island City, NY (2007); 99¢, Jersey City Museum & Victory Hall, Jersey City, NJ (2007); Current/Undercurrent, Brooklyn Museum, Brooklyn, NY (1997); and Cool Girls, PS122, New York, NY (1996). Gonzales is a prominent participant in the community of artist-run spaces and artist-driven projects in New York City, and her work is held in public collections including the Bronx Museum of the Arts, Bronx, NY and the High Museum of Art, Atlanta, GA. She has been awarded residencies such as Center of Contemporary Art, Andratx, Mallorca, Spain (2012); International Artists Exchange Program, Basel, Switzerland (2008); Sanskriti Kendra, New Delhi, India (2001); Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, NY (1999); and Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT (1997).
Tamara Gonzales is a Mexican-American artist celebrated for her vibrant and intricate paintings that harmoniously blend abstraction with figuration. Her work is deeply influenced by her extensive travels and profound connections with indigenous cultures of the Americas, as well as her engagement with spiritual practices from India and the Caribbean. Gonzales infuses her art with a rich tapestry of cultural and mystical elements, drawing upon ancestral knowledge and Western modernist traditions.
Central to her artistic process is the innovative use of lace as a stencil, through which she spray-paints to create layered patterns and textures. This technique allows her to explore themes of veiling, ornamentation, craft, and the interplay between opacity and transparency. The resulting compositions are characterized by exuberant colors, energetic lines, and archetypal imagery that evoke both personal and universal narratives. Concurrently drawing and collage are the engine that forms the foundation of her painting, textiles, and mosaics.
Gonzales's work reflects her personal experiences and visionary encounters, translating them into a unique visual language that resonates with themes of spirituality, nature, and the subconscious. Her paintings and installations serve as portals to otherworldly realms, inviting viewers to embark on their own journeys of introspection and discovery.
Through her art, Gonzales seeks to amplify the beauty found in the convergence of diverse cultural motifs and spiritual symbols, creating a harmonious blend that celebrates the interconnectedness of all beings. Her work stands as a testament to the transformative power of art to bridge gaps between disparate worlds, offering a space for contemplation, celebration, and unity.