Marlene Jorge was born in Santiago, Dominican Republic in 1974, she is a neurodivergent, autodidact, a pop surrealist artist who addresses unconsciousness in its true nature. Jorge offers a unique version of liberated unconsciousness. Her style is best known for its liberation from the common perspective, providing a subtle yet unique composition from an elevated place, inviting the spectators to break free from preconceptions or society’s blueprints.
Marlene Jorge spent her youth in her native Dom. Rep and the USA. The artist’s first drawing composition is dated 1982 and is currently owned by the artist’s Mother, who had observed Jorge’s artistry in drawing and painting at the very early age of 5. Challenging the spectators to sympathize with their inner selves; untouched by preconceived social, cultural and background fostering. Jorge’s style invites us to understand and embrace who we truly are without the life-giving preconceptions we ceaselessly experience.
Self-taught or art school?
I am an autodidact artist, I started drawing around the age of 4-5.
How would you describe your style?
It is pop surrealism. Most of my pieces are based on dreams I had combined with daily emotions and experiences.
Is narrative important within your work?
Not necessarily but it is an element found in many of my pieces, even if it is just in a subtle way. The narrative is the light we use to tell a story throughout our body of work, it is the silent voice our art uses to communicate to the observant.
Who are your favourite artists and why?
I have so many, however, I have always been intrigued and amazed by Dali, What is not to love about him? From his presence, image, mind and style he is and will be one of the greatest icons in art history. His paintings were highly personal with dreamlike imagery captured from Freudian analysis, thanks to Dalí the windows of the mind being opened completely.
What or who inspires your art?
I am inspired by human beings and like most artists, my work is mostly driven by emotion or expresses an emotion or a certain state of mind. I capture moments or elements of my life that resonate within the soul, just like a personal diary each one of my pieces possesses an emotional resonance, however, my body of work does not necessarily intend to convey any specific messages because my purpose it’s just to convey those experienced emotions.
Are there any recurring themes within your work and can you tell us about them?
I have always been captivated by people’s facial expressions, body language, etc, to me, portraits are not only a beautiful way to celebrate life but also a reminder of our own humanity per se. I believe that very particular psychological enlightenment takes place when you gaze at someone’s eyes and face to paint them and unknowingly we start paving a pathway to unconscious personal connection. My body of work represents the result of this fusion of my fascination for facial expressions, emotions I may perceive from them, personal introspection and dreams, which often I write down in my notebook after waking up.
Where’s your studio and what’s it like?
My studio is back in Texas, it’s a decent size with glass panels to let natural light come in. It’s pretty organized considering I usually place things all over..to me is very intimate.
Do you have any studio rituals?
My ritual is very volatile, however, a constant is that I need music to create, it helps me to focus because my mind works 24/7, it never rests, I sleep very little and I am always moving, doing something so music aids my ability to create. Mostly I would pick an idea or a mental picture from my mind and mentally dress and undress it (analyzed) and pursue it if I think it is worth working on. I work mostly on canvas but in both, physical and digital art I mostly prefer using pure colours, rarely blending or mixing and showing their true nature, pure bold, dense, bright primary colours.
What are you working on currently?
I am currently working on a series of pieces, in digital format, called elevated for an upcoming project I have in mind.
Where can we buy your art?
I work mainly on commissions, samples of my pieces can be found on my website or Instagram, and commissions can be requested through both social venues.
What are your ambitions?
As an artist I envision helping others through it, artists that just like myself are struggling with chronic depression so they know we can overcome obstacles that insist on stealing something so precious as our art process. I also envision having my own art gallery and supporting artists through it. I am working on my clothing brand so that is part of my vision as well. I have many dreams and they are all tied to serving and helping others in any way possible.
Website :https://artistmarlenejorge.com / Instagram : marlenejorgeartist
