Camilla Kathleen Campos Maloney is one of twelve artists selected as a Gallery 263 Small Works Project artist. This project presents artwork in flat files at the gallery and on our website for the duration of one year. All artists are based in Massachusetts.
Can you tell us a little about yourself?
My name is Camilla, I’m 26 and I live in Roslindale. I graduated from Massart with a BFA in 2020. I am currently working as a bartender to make ends meet as I begin the process of applying to graduate school for Art Therapy. Soon, I will be volunteering at the St. Francis house in the Expressive Arts studio, which I am very excited about.
What kind of art do you make?
I make drawings and paintings.
What concepts does your art explore?
My work is an exploration of my inner worlds— my psychological and emotional landscapes. My practice allows me to explore concepts that I find difficult to express through language alone.
Can you tell us about the work you have on view in your flat file drawer at the gallery?
images of work
The work I currently have in the flat file was made at a time when I felt like a hamster running on a wheel. Finding my footing after graduating from art school during a pandemic was a difficult process that I am still working through. I felt a lot of fear and uncertainty when making this series. I chose to utilize vibrant colors and gestural mark-making as a way to reenergize myself and work through the mental exhaustion that I felt.
Where do you make your work?
At my home studio.
What are your favorite materials to use? Most unusual?
I have currently been making a lot of drawings with a simple ballpoint pen. For smaller works on paper, I prefer gouache. For larger works on canvas, oil paint is my favorite.
What historical and contemporary artists inspire you?
Theresa Chromati, Amy Sillman, Phillip Guston, Francis Bacon
When did you decide you wanted to be an artist?
It doesn’t feel like I ever made that decision, I just always knew I wanted to live a creative life. There was no other choice to make. If I didn’t get into art school I was going to pursue a career as a tattoo artist. Both of my parents are very creative people, and I also had a great art teacher in high school, so from a young age I was encouraged to pursue this path.
Is there anything else you would like to share?
I know a lot of people who suffer from depression and anxiety. I am one of them. It can be really hard to push through the dark times, it feels like pulling yourself out of radioactive sludge. I just want to say that my artistic practice has been the most important aspect of my self-healing. My practice continues to teach me more and more about myself; it allows me to interrogate aspects of my personality that scare me, and it allows me to work through them. I encourage anyone who finds themselves in a dark place to explore different forms of creative expression, for I believe it to be a powerful tool to facilitate healing, well-being and a sense of freedom.