We had the good fortune of connecting with amanda teixeira and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi amanda, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I am a visual artist from Porto Alegre, a city in south Brazil. I am from a middle-class family; my dad was a sculptor and a musician, and my mom was a teacher trained as a librarian. Looking back, I realize how fortunate I was to be born into a politically engaged family that always took me to see exhibitions and made sure that I had access to visual arts, music, and literature. My first interest in arts started with photography, documenting punk bands at small independent concerts. Because I wanted to pursue a photography career but have always been a creative kid – I decided to study Fine Arts for my undergrad. In Porto Alegre, I studied at the Art Institute at UFRGS, which is the only art school that exists, and lucky, it is a great one. I later studied in different academic institutions, UBA in Buenos Aires/Argentina, KHM in Cologne/Germany, and recently, I finished my MFA at CalArts in Valencia/USA.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
The cultural and political references I had growing up really formed who I am today. For example, I am really interested in ideas of self-publishing and artists’ books as a medium of storytelling and creating art pieces that can be sent anywhere in the world. Also, a lot of my artistic practice is centered on exploring in-between spaces, absences, and non-linear narratives, which I explore through sculpture, video, and publications. This reflects my experience in different scenarios, speaking multiple languages and adapting to different cultures. Even though I have traveled a bit over the last few years, my artistic process involves a long-duration process of collecting, accumulating, displacing, and deconstructing everyday objects and images. I consider myself a very driven, curious, and adventurous person. I am a maker of many things and have taught myself a lot through my process. Nine years ago, I started a publishing house, “Azulejo,” because I wanted to learn how to make a book. Seven years ago, I moved to Germany without ever being there or knowing any German. Four years ago, I moved to California without ever being in the US and not knowing how to drive. In these situations, I never allowed fear to stop me from doing (almost) anything. I am driven by a curiosity for the unknown, as seen in my work. As a visual artist, my work comes from the materials and stories I find. In my most recent exhibition, I used different tactics to explore the spaces in between and the idea of a language of loss. Through sculptures created with everyday objects and materials, most works look provisional but with the intention to claim land in the instability. One of these sculptures comprised 98 dried orange peels I peeled, ate, and shared with people around me. This work could only happen in the dry climate of Valencia, where my studio at CalArts was located. These peels were hand-sewn with a golden thread and hung in rows in the middle of the gallery with a dramatic light. Their shadows created a kind of writing. I did this thinking about the way my father would peel oranges as an act of care for me, and I now do for others. In this and other works, I translate an affective memory into a poetic installation as a language everyone can speak. This is something I am interested in – small and invisible gestures and ephemeral works. I am influenced by people who can see through the banality of everyday life, like magical realism, artists working with domestic spaces, and concepts of home. I am very interested in narratives from the global south, decolonial, and queer perspectives.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I have been living here for the last three years and there is so much I haven’t yet explored! I would take them to the have coffee at Cafe Dulce in Little Tokyo or La Colombe in Frogtown before going to see some art galleries. I love going to the MOCA museum and checking out artists’ books at the Skylight Art Annex in Los Feliz. For dinner would take them to the Sage Bistro or Hotpot at the Haidilao. And for a taste of brazilian snaks I recommend the Aquarela Coffee – DTLA in a beautiful architechtural gem.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I always had a lot of support to pursue my dreams, and even though sometimes I had to deal with things by myself, I never felt lonely. During the last 10 years, I have moved a lot and have found that the most challenging part is finding a sense of belonging in different communities. I still struggle with that – but I have always been lucky to find a few good people that I can rely on. I also have a strong community that supports me back in Brazil, from my family and my partner to my studio fellows. I am still finding my way around LA and growing my community here in LA, but I am incredible greatful for the mentor and friends I have met so far.

Website: www.amandateixeira.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amndtx/

Other: http://www.oazulejo.com.br/

Image Credits
Amanda Teixeira, Brunella Martina, Gi Ahn

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