Ima Barraza

Creative expression not only requires an understanding of art, but also of the self. When one is repressed, consciously or unconsciously, art can be an effective means of expression and a powerful instrument used to examine and consider social issues and matters of human oppression. The essence of femininity itself, as well as the ideals of womanhood that have been created throughout history have become the fundamental issues expressed in my work. Granting this process has been a personal journey, I am aware it is not that different from other women’s experiences throughout life. As women we all face similar issues regarding the roles imposed upon us and the deep consequences this has on our lives. We are programmed, from a very early age, to be submissive, selfless, and obedient. Eventually we learn to forget who we really are.

For the past years, I have been using the female figure as a powerful form through painting, drawing and other means of expressing these ideas. Its sensual and organic nature enables me to reveal the sense of powerlessness and alienation that come from the fear of being true to ourselves. The subtleness of the female figure allows me to portray the natural disposition we have to fade away from our own i...

Ima Barraza was born in Bogotá, Colombia in 1972. In 1993 she graduated Magna Cum Laude from Ohio Wesleyan University with a BFA. Since then she has worked as an art director in the advertising and graphic design industry. At the same time, Ima has been developing her own creative expression and oeuvre based on her ongoing investigation about the concept of femininity, including her own experiences and the different points of view that society has on this matter. Her work has been enriched as a result of her long-stays in Canada, U.S.A., Puerto Rico, Venezuela and Mexico. Since 2008 she lives and works in Bogotá. In 2018, after a long process of self-reflection, the artist becomes aware that her work encompasses dilemmas which transcend her personal experiences and decides to exhibit it in order to put in evidence the conditions women are exposed to every day.