Details:
Veiled & Revealed explores the tension between concealment and discovery, the seen and the unseen. This series of portrait paintings on paper presents faces partially obscured by masks, hinting at identities both hidden and exposed. The act of masking raises questionswhat do we choose to reveal, and what remains beneath the surface? Some of these works on paper began as experiments with new materials and mark-making techniques. Using a long stick with a brush attached, I outlined faces in acrylic, intentionally distancing myself from control to keep the sketches fluid and expressive. Later, I returned to refine details and develop richer backgrounds, layering depth onto the initial spontaneity. Alongside these portraits, a series of mixed media paintings unfold through layers of collage, acrylic, spray paint, and oil pastels. These pieces embrace a process of building and uncovering, where hidden elements emerge through texture and depth. Each layer holds remnants of past decisions, revealing fragments of color, shape, and meaning that were once buried. Together, these works invite the viewer to look beyond the surfaceto find beauty in both what is revealed and what remains unseen. They both represent the periods of exploration, transition and re-invention of the artist journey. Andrea Lopez is a self-taught, Colombian-American artist in Vancouver, WA. Originally from Colombia, she discovered her passion for art after an initial career in medicine. Lopez creates vibrant, multi-layered mixed media artworks by intuitively combining collage, acrylics, oil pastels, charcoal, and spray paint into abstract-realist compositions. Her paintings feature subjects like animals, still lifes, barns, figures, and organic shapes enhanced by rich textures and a playful sense of humor inspired by her heritage. Text, fonts, and cultural motifs reflecting Lopezs love of language and travel are often incorporated. Through her joyful, exploratory artistic style, she aims to enrich others lives with the same wonder that drives her creativity. Find more about Andreas work here:
For more information , go to salemart.org/events/andrea-lopez-chen/
