ABOUT MONICA "I'm often asked when I started to paint… I guess ever since I could hold a brush." Born in Mexico City into an eclectic family with two artist grandparents, Monica was very fortunate to have been raised with three languages and a paintbrush in her hand. After finishing high school in Mexico City in 1982, she started what would become 20 years of extensive travel and studies throughout Europe and North America. "I've always pursued two parallel passions and professions: one in the visual arts, as a painter, the other in language arts, as an interpreter, translator and language consultant." From 1982 to 1988 Monica lived in Zürich, Switzerland. While studying there for her BA in Translation and Modern Languages (Spanish, German, and English), she added formal training to her self-developed artistic skills during workshops and courses at the a local art school, as well as in intensive courses at the Instituto Allende, in San Miguel Allende, while back in Mexico during Summers. During that period she also studied Art Appreciation at Queen's University during an exchange term in Ontario, Canada. Her years of travel and residence in different countries awarded her the opportunity to study the Masters during her visits to museums all over Europe and America and to take in the various cultures, shapes, colors and light of such diverse countries. These experiences intensified her passion for the arts and in particular for the human element in painting. In addition to her constant independent study to master her draft, traveling also afforded her the possibility to attend workshops in different cities. Throughout her stays in different countries she combined her work as an artist and as a translator/interpreter and language consultant. In 1988 she returned to Mexico City for four years, where she met and married Emilio, with whom she has two children, Ricardo and Alex. Since 1992 she also lived in Boston, MA while Emilio did his PhD, and later in San Diego, CA. But she has returned, sometimes for months, sometimes for years, to the light and color of her native Mexico. In 2001 the family moved to Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she joined Associated Artists of Winston-Salem and immediately felt at home in an active and welcoming artist community. Until 2005 she devoted herself in her artistic life exclusively to painting , participating in numerous group exhibitions, invitational and solo art shows, art fairs and auctions. She was also very active doing commissioned portraits. In 2005 her medium and visions underwent a dramatic transformation and she started working mostly in mosaics. In the last four years she has completely immersed herself in the medium, completing two large-scale public art instalations, numerous community projects and several gallery mosaics. She has also conducted workshops and mosaic presentations. SELECTED SHOWS (2002-2006) "Third Annual Juried Art Exhibition", North Carolina Baptist Hospital "Fourth Annual Juried Art Exhibition", North Carolina Baptist Hospital "In Season", associate member show at AAWS "Wild and Wonderful", invitational show for AAWS prize winners "Clemmons Juried Art Competition" "Members Only", 2nd Annual Associate Member Juried Show at AAWS "An American Experience", national juried art exhibit "Color Works", juried watercolor and pastel exhibit at AAWS "Go Figure", juried figurative work show at AAWS Community exhibit at the Twin City Club, Winston-Salem, NC "Primary Colors" Associate Member Show at AAWS Invitational solo exhibition at the "Sticht Gallery" at North Carolina Baptist Hospital, Oct - Dec 2006 Invitational solo exhibition at the Winston-Salem Chamber of Commerce, Jan - March 2007 Silent Auction piece for the Forsyth County Public Library's Centennial Celebration. Nov 06 AWARDS AND HONORS "Best in show" award, "Library Altered Art" silent auction, Forsyth County Public Library's Centennial Celebration 3rd place, "Fourth Annual Juried Art Exhibition", North Carolina Baptist Hospital 1st place, "Third Annual Juried Art Exhibition", North Carolina Baptist Hospital 3rd place, "Associate Member Show", at AAWS, Winston-Salem, NC Purchase Award, "An American Experience", national juried art exhibit Honorable Mention, "Clemmons Juried Art Competition", Clemmons, NC PUBLIC ART INSTALLATIONS (2005-2009) Summit School, Winston-Salem, NC: Two large exterior mosaic benches, May 2009 Summit School, Winston-Salem, NC: Stinnet River. 400 square feet exterior mosaic on playground installation, Oct 2005 TV INTERVIEW "The Artist's View", program featuring local artists, CATV 6 HOME