Catalina Canessa Gracia

I was born and raised in Santiago de Chile in 1974.
I studied arquitecture, I love it, but I always felt I wanted to paint and be free in the process. So I also took art studies in Chile and Barcelona.
I moved to the south of Chile in 2004, and now I am living with my family in Puerto Varas.

My work its about my mental lanscapes and my feelings about what a place showing to me and how it moves my connections inside. It's amost always about color sensations, movement, temperature, sounds and differences.

When I start painting is a very intuitive process, dominated by the energy of the moment....almost never knowing the final direction. Brush stokes, lines, and organic forms are the main structure of my paintings. There is no real image on them.

I Iove the abstract way of going into art, because it gives me the freedom of doing what moves me in that moment, and it allows me to explore materials and what ever comes through the support.

I use mainly acrylic paint, and all kind of color pencils, graphite, carbon, pastels and spray paint. I also have been exploring collage into my paintings.

I work over strong papers, canvases, and wood panel.
I want that people who see my work feels the energy through color and mark making.......

1999 I graduate as an Arquitect in Univ. FinisTerrae Santiago, Chile.
2002 Took a 2 years diplomat Art Studies of Art foccusing in painting, Univ. Católica de Chile. Santiago.
2003 Barcelona, Da Vinci Escola D'Art Studies, exploring different materials in visual arts.
2013 Art Therapy diplomat studies, U. de Chile.
I also have attended diferent workshops of any creative tecnique that calls my atention.
2017-2018 Abstract Painting, 6 months Online Workshop with Nancy Hillis, The Artist Journey.
2020 Color Course for Rebels,
Online Workshop, with Jodie King.
2020 Perfectly Imperfect, (online)
Discovering your visual language with Lorna Crane.
2022 NYC Abstract painting workshop: The Visionary Proyects.

2024 Solo Exhibition en el Centro de Arte Molino Machmar, Puerto Varas, Chile.
2012 Solo Exhibition Galería Bosque Nativo, Puerto Varas, Chile.
2007 Solo Exhibition Casa de la cultura, Ancud, Chiloé.
2004 Exhibition U. Catolica de Chile
2003 Exhibition Da Vinci Escola D' Art, Barcelona.
2003 Solo exhibition Fundación Nacional de la Cultura,
Santiago, Chile.