My name is Núria Fustero and I come from illustration, I did a higher diploma in art and artistic crafts, and over all these years I've been maturing my technique and style, which sits halfway between illustration, street art and painting.
When and why did you start painting?
Always, I've painted for as long as I can remember. As a little girl I used to draw in class and I was good at it. When I finished compulsory schooling I studied a diploma in arts and crafts and specialised in illustration, and from there I've been shaping my style. How do you think a gallery and its artists should help each other?
By promoting each other, that is, each one promoting the other's work, as well as putting on events and proposing projects.
What advice would you give to artists who are just starting to show their work?
That they shouldn't quit, that if it's what fulfils them, they should try to keep at it, even if they have to work at something else to get by.
How did you sell your first artwork? Is there one you feel a stronger connection with?
It was in a gallery in Barcelona called Background. It's the artwork I feel the most connection with, since it's the first one that really made it clear to me that what I wanted to do was keep painting, and someone buying it motivated me to carry on.
What is art for you? What part does it play in your life? Do you make a living from art?
For me art can be anything that moves you, art can be in the street too, in anything even if it isn't in a gallery; a landscape, a graffiti, an abandoned object, the movement of a dancer, a song,…
In my life art defines me, it fulfils me, I couldn't be happy without it. Right now I don't make a living from art but that isn't going to make me give up, I'll never stop painting.
What are your sources of inspiration? Do you identify with any other artist?
I take a lot of inspiration from the animal world, from animal totems, hence the half animal female characters. An artist from the past who inspires me is Klimt, I'm fascinated by his symbolism, that way of using flat geometric figures with figurative bodies, women above all, those abstract backgrounds that embrace the female figures are a huge influence for me. Frida Kahlo is also a great inspiration for me, both as a woman artist and as a painter.
Among my contemporaries, I really like Glenn Barr, his brushwork and use of colour, the atmosphere he gives his artworks is perfect. Miss Van is also a reference for me, her artworks, between illustration and street art, have had a big impact on my own work.
Your artworks remind me of Mark Ryden's pop surrealism, what do you think about that? Do you think your work fits into that style?
I think I do consider myself part of Pop Surrealism, it's a movement that has influenced me along with street art, although in my view this style is a descendant of street art or the graffiti world.
In your creative process, do you have any habit, practice or quirk that's peculiar or curious?Simply that when I finish a painting I clean my whole table, where I do the sketches, I tidy and clean everything in general, so I can start a new artwork.
Have you had any exhibitions lately, what can you tell us? Do you have any project in mind?At the Cor23 gallery in the Born district of Barcelona, a lovely experience with other artists, with a live mural painting. Soon I'm thinking of also devoting myself to mural painting.
Could you recommend us:An artist: Glenn Barr, for the futuristic, imaginative settings he creates. An artwork: Sirenas by Klimt, for its mix of the figurative and the abstract. A book: Complete Stories by Edgar Allan Poe, because they're short stories with a dark touch. A film: Exit Through the Gift Shop, a documentary that makes you think about the current state of modern art.
Thank you very much.
Thank you.
We invite you to visit Mystic Missy Fu's gallery.
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