Ioana Villatoro is a visual artist currently living in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She was born in Romania and raised between New York City and Southern California. As a teenager, she studied and practiced art. In 2017, after long hiatus from creating to focus on being a parent, she picked up a paintbrush for the first time in 10 years. Her work is inspired by the contemplative qualities of the natural world, the quiet moments of observation that can often go overlooked, and the general peace and motivation found in nature. Her artistic style consists of loose, wild brushstrokes and intuitive compositions depicting movement and light. Her medium of choice is acrylic paint.
Statement
My work explores the natural world and its relation to our own internal balance and emotions. I love looking at light and atmosphere and how they change the dynamic of place and contribute to our mood. Being in nature and having a relationship to it is a very personal experience. I love to paint landscapes because I see the natural world as perfectly balanced and harmonious despite its ever-changing complexity. As much as loving nature creates an appreciation for the artwork, I think the artwork is an experience in and of itself and contributes to a love for the landscapes around us. My artwork is more than just seeing the natural world in a specific moment, but feeling it and understanding we are a part of it at all times.