Stream of Consciousness: Monique Prieto

Orange You Glad (118k)

No Exceptions (144k)

Monique Prieto makes bold abstractions using what at first glance appear to be primary colors and basic shapes that are haphazardly arranged. In fact each element of the composition, whether invented or incorporating the random, is carefully calculated and revised on the computer. Free association informs (but never controls) every aspect of this process; chance is most evident in such titles as Orange You Glad and Tower of Power, which the artist generally designates at the very end of her working process. Although specific elements of these works may suggest body parts, cloud formations, or foodstuffs to different viewers, Prieto isolates the abstract potential of painting, exploring the dynamics of form and composition for their own sake.