Ana Pena

Rita was on her third year of architecture the drawing teacher challenged her to "try colour". She decided at that point to experiment oil on canvas and the experience continues!
Rita's paintings are dynamic and an explosion of colour. Her work is divided in two genres. The abstracts, generally acrylic on canvas, are a fast raw expression of momentary emotions. For the figurative work she favors the use of oil paint for the fluidity that allows more organic and sensual results.
The recurrent subject is the human figure and the different emotional states of mind, emphasized by the colour and background.
The style developed and evolved over time, at mercy of attempts to explore different ways to express herself and external influences like her love of loved graphic novels particularly work by Enki Bilal.
Generally by invitation exhibited her work on both solo and collective shows and in galleries in Portugal, Spain and UK.

Dep Arch.

Actiu London Show room- Art and Architecture

http://www.actiu.com/en/articles/news/actiu-london-showroom-art-and-architecture-in-its-purest-form


I Know What I Like Group Show: 3-9 October 2014.

http://www.iknowwhatilike.org/ana-rita/

Ana Rita paints roughly finished, sensual portraits of attractive female figures. Her hyperbolic characters arouse the viewer through dark, dignified postures, and the compositions deliberately resist slick pictorial beauty.

“My recurrent subject is the human figure and different emotional states of mind, which I emphasize through the colour and background”.

Rita’s paintings generate a sophisticated type of attraction, produced by the predominant red-black-white colour palette, and by exposed brush strokes. These also function as a contrast to Rita’s everyday practice as an architect, allowing her to create women’s portraits of atmosphere, character and power.

Rita has exhibited in group and solo shows in Spain, Portugal and the UK.