Irene Berrones Kolb

I’ve loved drawing since childhood. Reflecting and capturing in my drawings the uniqueness of faces and the spectrum of emotions we all share initially caught my attention and has since become my favorite subject of work. In my paintings, I use the tradition of portraiture to honor emotions, the individual, and their stories. I choose rich colors like a punctuation mark to convey vibrancy, strength, and meaning.

My paintings also celebrate and honor my culture as a Mexican American. My work often features ofrendas from El Dia de Los Muertos, Mexican food, folk art, and Latina subjects. Artists that have influenced me include Alice Neel, Saturnino Herran, Celia Calderon, Clarissa Pinkola Estes, and Michele Serros.