About the Artist: Sivonna Ash West was named after a figment of her mother’s imagination. Born and raised in sunny southern California, her life as an artist is influenced by the youthful skate, surf and snow scene, combined with instinctual dark nods to the occult, the metaphysical and the supernatural.
She paints from her heart in hopes to mystify the viewer, while feeding her constant craving for the wild fantastic thing called beauty.
Sivonna earned a BFA in Illustration from Pacific Northwest College of Art in May 2011 and since has been residing and painting in Portland, Oregon. Showing at local galleries and cafes.
In 2014 she stayed at Studio P52, an artist residency in Barcelona, Spain and painted murals indoors and outdoors as well. Afterwards she traveled to Berlin, Germany to make art and was inspired to start her own line of painted velvet capes. Both the murals and the wearable art pieces are creative vehicles to bring more exposure to her artwork from outside viewers.
Ed. Note: Ms. West also created the artwork and backdrops for the touring productions Sueños de Fútbol and Searching for Aztlán on commission from Milagro.
Artist's Statement:
For "Garden of Nocturne", my solo exhibition at Milagro, I made a series of black velvet paintings stretched on wood panels. I was inspired by native Mexican flora and the colorful cactus gardens that flourish even in the driest of seasons. The dark shadows of the black velvet against the bright colored acrylic highlights create nocturnal scenes in an abstract land. The glowing eyes that peer from the depths of these scenes remind the viewer of other life forms traveling in the night; and give the feeling of paranoia that one might associate with psychedelic hallucinations.
Don't miss this exhibit with elements of shamanism, native ritual and, of course, dreamlike visions, free and open to the public during the run of American Night!
