Kiara Florez

Year of birth: 1999.
Where do you live: Delaware, USA.
Your education: Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art at Delaware State University (2021).
Describe your art in three words: imaginative, spiritual, and otherworldly.
Your discipline: Never stop making art! Dedication and passion to express creatively will bring in all the opportunities and achievements. There is no need to compare as every artist carries their own style and practice. I always make art how I see fit, and then the audience and support is found after. The end goal is always moving onward and upward!
Website | Instagram

Can you share the inspiration behind your current series of works? How do spirituality and femininity influence your creative process?  

I have been inspired by nature even in the early works, but lately, I have taken the inspiration to another level. In daily life, I am looking for patterns and shapes in the trees, clouds, and overall landscapes. I capture mental pictures from my outside observations and take them into consideration for the next painting when it is time. Concepts of earthly tones and environments are portrayed in vivid palettes. Nature can be moody, transformative, and expressive just like us, and I like to show that to viewers. Spirituality and femininity play a role as they are pulled from personal experiences and reflections. It took years to discover what femininity meant for me. It is a routine for everyone to express how they feel or want to feel through a certain mindset, clothing attire, attitude, etc. My style consists of cool tones and maintaining a determined mindset on workdays. When it comes to art, I let loose, take in all the colors, and allow myself to feel whatever I want. I rely on loose factors of spirituality to curate my artistic craft and practice self-love. Painting gives me that voice as it reflects all the moments that led me here.  

Kiara Florez | Withering Slowly

Your work often features human-like beings in surreal, abstract settings. How do these forms represent your personal experiences or emotions?  

The forms can be represented in many ways. They are seen as guardians, actors in a story, angels, or a self-portrait. Most times, they do not have distinct human features as it allows space for interpretation. The loose outline of a figure gives them the illusion of being a human being placed in a dreamlike, surreal setting. The human beings, or “ghost friends” as some people have called them, are there to define my current feelings. My emotions constantly fluctuate when painting, and the “ghost friends” play their role in it. If I feel lost or confused, they’re floating aimlessly in the sky or painted in darker tones. If I am feeling bubbly or happy, they glow in bright yellow, surrounded by a rainbow of colors. They become symbols of my inner thoughts, struggles, triumphs, and overall imagination. The human-like beings are easily relatable as it’s a reminder of what it is to be human and carry much emotion. Viewers like to place themselves in my works as the “ghost friend” and decide their own emotions and experience.  

You mentioned that your paintings reflect your healing journey. How has art helped you process and navigate this path?  

Art has been my best friend since I was a kid, but as I got older and was figuring out who I wanted to be, it became my voice. My healing journey began when I developed major anxiety in early adolescence. I realized the power of being anxious and overwhelmed can truly affect the body physically. I could not quite articulate these struggles in words, and so I turned to painting/drawing to let the thoughts flow. It was better than bottling it in. Themes of spirituality and nature took shape in my works as it provided calmness and strengthened self-love. For some, an outlet would be running, journaling, or gardening. For me, it was always art, and it kept me grounded in my vision of physical health, confidence, and a positive mentality. My art has evolved since the beginning of the healing journey, and so have I.  

Kiara Florez | Chaos Ensues

The use of bold colors and wavy lines is a distinct feature of your work. What do these elements symbolize in the context of your paintings?  

Although there may be times I use a limited palette, I am naturally inclined to use all the colors of the rainbow. The last step before starting a painting is to lay out all the colors on the palette because, at some point, I intend to use most of it. The boldness and brightness make a statement to the viewer. I have heard my works can be too colorful, but to others, it is the right amount. At the end of the day, I cannot help but paint what I feel is right. The intended audience will understand. The colors communicate with each other through wavy lines and circles. There are not many sharp edges like triangles or squares seen in the works. Waves and circles represent a softness and easiness, which sets the spiritual tones that are sprinkled in. They speak to me more in the artistic process. Dark, vivid colors and sharp lines appear if I am feeling conflicted or concerned. If I were to tell someone a shape that defines me, it would be a round circle with waves of colors swirling within.  

How does your connection to nature, such as the Delawarean beaches and Pennsylvanian hills, shape the themes and stories within your artwork?  

Sometimes I paint from imagination, which has been a routine since childhood, but now I draw from familiar landscapes or search for new environments within reach. I have lived on the eastern shore for eight years and find many beautiful scenes even from my own backyard. Delaware holds beauty and hidden landscapes like any other place—it is a matter of looking for it at the right time. The beaches are beautiful. The waves are my happy place as I can listen to the waters overlap and observe its movement as the weather progresses. I recently started traveling to Pennsylvania more and have fallen in love with the hillsides and farmlands. The endless rows of greenery and fields of yellows and reds are a wonder to look at. I can only imagine the paintings I would make whenever I travel around the world. I am constantly influenced by the natural scenes, and my works would not feel complete without it. For the moment, I am a homebody at heart and simply enjoy the beauty of nature not too far away. The landscapes in my works are now painted from real life, and abstract forms are fused with it.  

Kiara Florez | Alignment

Many of your works are intuitively developed. Can you describe how intuition guides your creative decisions and the final compositions?  

My paintings are all intuitive, meaning I never sketch out preliminary studies. The vision is often stuck in my mind until I finally get it out on a canvas. The idea could strike if I am outside and see something that stands out. I could think of a scene randomly or wake up with an idea. I cannot force the idea to happen—it must arrive naturally. This means that I could go weeks without painting if the ideas do not appear. Once they do, however, I have the urge to paint it. The idea can change later, and something I once thought of before could transform or be left out as the painting comes to life. I do not label any later changes as a mistake. It is simply a different direction that will take me to a better one. That is what I find the most fun part of intuitive painting: the composition can be changed rather quickly or not at all. Most times, the initial idea does come to life. I never do two paintings at once. I will finish whatever I started even if I have other ideas in my mind. It is a patient, slow process that can have various endings. My best works are 100% intuitive. It’s the only moment I do not have to think about anything but just paint the vision stuck in my head.  

Your paintings explore the idea of other dimensions and imaginative worlds. How do these themes relate to your view of the human psyche?  

I feel as though dreams or strong imaginations are a way to escape from reality. Reality does not have unicorns and fairies, but with art or any other creative form, you can make anything come true. Imagination is extremely powerful, and art fuels that to any extent. It truly can say so many words without having to write any. Dimensions and imaginative worlds are concepts discussed by many, whether it is through religious, scientific, or just general perspective. Humans are free to think of the imaginable and impossible. I like to paint a beautiful surrealist landscape or dreamy portals because I imagine myself in such places. It makes me feel happy, and it is fun to see what I can come up with. So many classics and famous art are made from those with vivid imaginations while still influenced by realities of life. In my works, I paint familiar things but then add in the imaginative elements so others can get lost in it. They see my story, struggles, and successes just as much as my imagination. It is complex and relatable, which allows great conversation and connection.