GOLDEN SPIRAL DESIGNS BY CAITLIN PADILLA
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About Me
I am a Spiritual Surrealist painter from New Mexico, having a family foundation of centuries here. My work is an evolution of my journey through navigating connection and relationships, spirituality, ideology and imagination. Through my work, I push myself to connect and understand the ethereal nature of being and the universe. I am inspired by philosophy, existentialism, emotion, Sacred Geometry, the interconnectedness of the Universe, and the relationship between vulnerability and power. Encompassing the beauty and repetition in nature on both the large and small scale and examining it on a deeper level. I believe in involving my audience in my process as much as possible, and live paint at every event. Inviting connection and exposing myself and my process, and creating an open, authentic and vulnerable dialogue.    

Active in the community, I can be found vending and live painting at the Downtown Grower's Market, The Rail Yards as well as numerous galleries and First Friday events throughout Albuquerque and Santa Fe. My work is available at The Octopus and the Fox and Metal The Store. I started Golden Spiral Designs in 2016, and have partnered with William Wooten to create Pigment Pushers, a painting event and class at numerous restaurants and bars in Albuquerque. I have been featured and recognized in group and solo exhibitions, including Solo exhibitions "Lost & Found" 2020 and "Exposed" 2019, OT Circus. ABQ Pride winner, Best In Category for Oil Painting, ABQ Pride 2018 and Audience Choice 2017. Featured Artist at the Rail Yards Steam Zone 2017. 
 I am featured in The Contemporary Hispanic Market 2019 in Santa Fe, and the New Mexico Artisan Market 2019/2020. Classically trained with a BFA in Fine Arts from the University of New Mexico, My work reflects the influences of Surrealism, Kahlo, Dali, Grey, Magritte, Geiger, Escher, Picasso, and as well as Mannerism, Modernism and Spanish Colonialism.



Artist Statement
           The search for purpose, meaning, and the divine propels us through life. The inherent order and beauty in chaos has fascinated people for millennia.
Throughout all of our journeys we are constantly battling with how open we are with others, and what we reveal about ourselves. Sometimes we connect profoundly, sometimes we get hurt, sometimes we lose those closest to us.But we should never let it stop us from being present, embracing our authenticity, and allowing others to be open and present with us. I believe vulnerability is strength
It is brave to be exposed and show your true self.

When we are exposed and let others see our souls and the universe inside of each one of us, we allow them to share themselves and those connections stay with us forever


I have chosen to be exposed, in life and through my art. 
Each one of these pieces shows a different aspect of the duality of vulnerability and strength. And the connection we all share.

                This is ultimately what drives my exploration and creativity and I use these concepts to connect my audience to each other and the spirituality throughout the universe.
I continue to experiment with different mediums, primarily in Oil, Acrylic and chalk pastel. Ultimately, I am attracted to what will allow me to communicate best what I see in my head, and my heart. I frequently use a black background rather than white, reminding me of DaVinci and his thought, “A painter should begin every canvas with a wash of black, because all things in nature are dark except where exposed by the light.” Though I express specific ideas and questions through my art, it is not my job to tell the viewer what or how to feel about it. The audience and their perception is equally important to the process of art and its message. I leave you with this:

“The most beautiful experience we can have is the mysterious. It is the fundamental emotion that stands at the cradle of true art and true science.”
― Albert Einstein, The World As I See It
​
Exhibitions and Awards


2020
Rail Yards Holiday Market, December
OT Circus, Pop-Up Market, August-October
OT Circus, Solo Show, "Lost & Found"
Tipping Points for Creatives Peer Advisor and Speaker, February

NM Artisan Market, Albuquerque, February
​

2019
Tipping Points for Creatives, Wise Council Convenings, March-December
Krampusnaucht Market, Devine Eye Tattoo, December
Rail Yards Holiday Market
OT Circus, Group Show, "The Roaring Twenties", December
NM Artisan Market, Albuquerque and Santa Fe
We Are This City, Group Show, December
OT Circus, Group Show, "Vice + Virtue", October
Contemporary Hispanic Market, July Santa Fe
OT Circus, Group Show, "Euphemistic II", June
Downtown Growers Market, April-October
Rail Yards Market, April-October
First Friday Artswalk, Jan-March 
Moonstone Pop-up, March 
OT Circus, Solo Show, "Exposed" March 
Humble Get Down, February 
OT Circus, Group Show, "Let's Get Naked"  February 
​The Peoples Art Show, Factory on Fifth, January
Artichoke Café, December 2018-February 2019

2018
Nob Hill Bar & Grill, We Are This City group show December
Rail Yards Holiday Market, December
Downtown Grower's Market, December
Salon 528, Solo Show, March-Septembeer
Downtown Growers Market, April-October

Rail Yards Market, April-October
OctoFair Market, October

ABQ PRIDE 2018, June: Winner: Best in Category, Oil Painting
The Peoples Art Show, Factory on Fifth, January
Java Joe's, solo show, January 

2017
Raven Art Center, October-December 
Featured Artist, Steam Zone, Rail Yards Market
Downtown Growers Market, April-October

Rail Yards Market, April-October
OctoFair, October

ABQ Pride 2017, June: Winner: Audience Choice Award
The People's Art Show, Factory on Fifth, January 2017

2016
The Remedy Spa
OctoFair, October

Ra Organics, Santa Fe, Summer 2016
The People's Art Show, Factory on Fifth
All content on this site copyright of Caitlin Padilla and Golden Spiral Designs, unless otherwise indicated
© COPYRIGHT 2015. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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