Ollague Painting

Macarena Salinas is a Chilean artist whose work explores the profound relationship between nature, materials and artistic gestures. With a focus on the tactile qualities of ceramics and painting, her creative process emphasises the expressive power of raw materials, particularly clay and pigment, as carriers of meaning. For Salinas, it is the material itself that speaks, forming the foundation of her artistic vision. Driven by a fascination with the origins of life and the earth, she uses clay — essentially rock particles shaped by hand and fire — as a medium that bridges the physical and the spiritual. Salinas embraces the mystery and spontaneity of creation, welcoming the unexpected marks, gestures and accidents that arise during the creative process. These traces, embedded in the final piece, become part of its identity and expressive force. Salinas draws inspiration from the cycles of nature, viewing them as harmonious, regenerative and magical. Her abstract compositions reflect the energy, rhythm and unity of natural life while also aiming to convey a sense of mystery. She describes painting as a moment of surprise and emergence where each piece takes on a life of its own, becoming autonomous from its creator. Born in Santiago, Chile, Salinas currently lives and works between Santiago and Miami, and has exhibited in Chile, France, the United States, Korea, and Spain. Her work has been featured in solo and group exhibitions, biennials and art fairs. Salinas continues to explore the intersection of materiality, nature, and artistic intuition in her evolving practice.