Reyes Padilla

The Reality of Making Your Life as an Artist

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part of a series on Reality
May 20, 2016

15:59

“At the end of the day you better have something to show, because sh*ts not going to make itself”

Born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Reyes Padilla currently lives and works in Albuquerque. When Reyes began creating works at the age of 15, it was done through the influence of music. He learned to play guitar and started to compose songs. Without music, he believes paintings would be very different. “Between composing and painting I realized that I am blessed with a common condition known as synesthesia, which allows me to visualize sounds represented by color and shape and vice versa. The music I listen to while I paint greatly influences the outcome of each painting.” Reyes has also stated that another great influence on his work is his colorblindness, which forces him to use high contrasting colors.

In this talk, Reyes discusses the reality of working full-time as an artist, as well as how synesthesia and colorblindness changes the reality of art for him.

About the speaker

Born in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Reyes Padilla currently lives and works in Albuquerque. His work has sold to a variety of collectors, including the State of New Mexico. Padilla's installation titled, ¡Mira, Look!, was purchased for the permanent collection of Explora Science Center and Museum in Albuquerque in 2016. Padilla has most recently shown in the Santa Fe Convention Center Community Gallery (2015) and created a solo mural exhibition at Graft Gallery (ABQ, NM. 2015). He works out of his studio at the Factory on 5th located near downtown Albuquerque.

"Between composing and painting I realized that I am blessed with a common condition known as synesthesia, which allows me to visualize sounds represented by color and shape and vice versa. The music I listen to while I paint greatly influences the outcome of each painting."

Reyes has also stated that another great influence on his work is his colorblindness, which forces him to use high contrasting colors.