Alexis Portilla

Monolith
30 x 30
Oil on canvas

The idea of 'awakening' as we make our way through the pandemic of 2020 /  2021 is for me the realization and affirmation that what we do as artists must  be seen in context to what is happening writ large in our communities. The catastrophic loss of life in New York City alone from Covid-19 has reframed  the importance of creating art for me in ways that I would not have imagined  before January of 2020. I love what I do and will continue to create art as long as I am able while keeping the perspective I need to prioritize what is truly important. My health and that of my family and friends will always supersede my personal pursuit of achieving goals in my studio and commercial success.  

I hope that everyone I know will join me in recognizing these same basic  priorities for the future and we can concentrate on building better local  infrastructure for handling future emergencies as well as continuing to shore up  existing ones as we work towards getting back to 'normal” whatever that may  be going forward.