“Art invites observers to connect with their own feelings, giving each piece a personal meaning, maybe far from my initial inspiration.”
From Buenos Aires to the World: A Journey Rooted in Creativity
Alejandra Valeiro, an artist from Buenos Aires, Argentina, has embraced art as both a calling and a passion woven into her life from an early age. Growing up, she was deeply influenced by her mother, who was a painter and fostered her innate talent for crafting and visual expression. These early experiences laid the foundation for Alejandra’s artistic journey, one that evolved alongside her professional career as a psychologist. This dual path has profoundly shaped her perspective, allowing her to explore the intricacies of human nature, with a particular focus on the diverse and layered experiences of women.
For Alejandra, the interplay between her psychology background and her art is not just incidental; it is pivotal. Her understanding of emotions and the human psyche informs her work, guiding her creative vision and providing a deep well of inspiration. Womanhood, in all its complexities, stands at the heart of her artistic explorations, making her work a compelling dialogue between form and emotion.
The global pandemic served as a turning point in her creative journey. What once was a passion flourished into a full-time pursuit, leading her to rediscover old techniques while venturing into new mediums. In 2022, she achieved a long-held dream: sculpting. This new chapter in her artistic career has not only expanded her repertoire but has also garnered international recognition, including a memorable showing at the London Biennale of Women in Art in 2024.
Alejandra Valeiro: A Figurative Vision Rooted in Emotion
Alejandra’s artistic style is deeply rooted in the figurative, yet it does not shy away from the unexpected. Her works often blend lifelike forms with abstract elements, creating a dynamic tension that invites interpretation. These disruptive details serve as a bridge between the personal and the universal, allowing viewers to bring their own experiences and emotions into the artwork. It is this interactive quality that Alejandra treasures most, as she believes art holds the power to connect individuals to their inner worlds.
Her sculptures and paintings center on women, capturing their emotions, struggles, and triumphs. By doing so, Alejandra offers a profound exploration of identity and the multifaceted nature of being. Some of her pieces remain untitled, a deliberate choice that leaves room for personal interpretation, further emphasizing her belief in the transformative power of art. This openness to subjective meaning is a hallmark of her work, inviting viewers to engage deeply and create their own narratives.
One of her celebrated works, a sculpture titled Solitude, embodies this philosophy. Selected for exhibition at the prestigious Chelsea Old Town Hall in London, the piece resonated with audiences for its evocative portrayal of isolation and introspection. For Alejandra, the success of this piece reflects her ability to channel universal themes through the lens of individual experience.
The Studio as Sanctuary: Crafting Art in Isolation and Inspiration
Alejandra’s creative space is an integral part of her process. Her home studio, a serene room overlooking a lush garden, serves as both a sanctuary and a gateway to her artistic explorations. Music, an essential companion to her work, provides the rhythm to her sculpting sessions, creating an immersive atmosphere that blocks out distractions. For her, the act of creation is an otherworldly journey, where time and space dissolve, leaving only the clay, her hands, and the melodies that guide her.
Her preferred medium, clay, offers the versatility and tactile satisfaction she seeks in her work. It allows her to seamlessly merge the techniques of modeling and painting, resulting in pieces that are as visually compelling as they are texturally rich. While she has experimented with materials like plasticine and plaster, she finds clay’s durability and adaptability unparalleled. Her ambition to expand into bronze signifies a bold step toward pushing the boundaries of her craft, as she envisions creating life-sized sculptures in the near future.
Alejandra’s dedication to her art is further enriched by her love of European sculpture. Each visit to Italy or France becomes a pilgrimage, where she immerses herself in the masterpieces of Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Auguste Rodin, Giambologna, and Antonio Canova. These encounters fuel her creative spirit and deepen her appreciation for the timeless connection between form and emotion.
Alejandra Valeiro: Honoring the Masters and Dreaming Big
The influence of historical sculpture is a constant source of inspiration for Alejandra. She holds a deep admiration for the artistry of Giambologna’s Abduction of a Sabine Woman, a 16th-century masterpiece that exemplifies the dramatic power of sculpture. The intricate interplay of tension, movement, and emotion in this work captivates her, offering lessons in craft and storytelling that she carries into her own practice. For Alejandra, the ability of a sculpture to evoke such visceral responses underscores its unique impact as a three-dimensional art form.
Her artistic aspirations reflect her desire to leave a similar legacy. Among her dreams is the creation of a human-sized sculpture, a project she envisions undertaking by 2025. This ambitious goal embodies her commitment to growth and innovation, as well as her belief in the transformative potential of large-scale works. It is a vision that aligns seamlessly with her philosophy: art as a mirror to human experience, capable of bridging the gaps between creator, viewer, and emotion.
Through her art, Alejandra Valeiro continues to explore the depths of human emotion, honoring both the artistic traditions of the past and the evolving narratives of the present. Her work not only celebrates the strength and beauty of women but also invites us to reflect on our own stories, offering a timeless space for connection and introspection.
