Today we’d like to introduce you to Anna Galluzzi.
So, before we jump into specific questions, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I’ve always wanted to be an artist and was always the “art kid” in middle school and high school. When I was 17, I moved from my hometown of San Marcos, TX to DFW to pursue my degree at the University of Texas at Dallas, which I completed in 2017. I ended up with a double major degree in both Literary Studies and Visual Arts, leading my work to be highly driven by narratives and storytelling.
After graduating, I moved to Austin with my partner, who has a degree in computer science, but I had a lot of difficulty finding a job in anything remotely relevant to my degree. I fell back onto my side-gig as a vegan baker and worked as a production manager at an Austin based bakery. While the job paid the bills, I felt very unfulfilled making hundreds of cupcakes daily. Luckily for me, one of the owners was from Denton and had graduated with her MA from Texas Woman’s University and highly recommended it to me. After being accepted into the MFA Painting & Drawing program at TWU, my partner, my dogs and I relocated to Denton where we now reside.
I am heading into my 2nd year at TWU where I have had the opportunity to work in painting courses and have been exposed to so many positive influences. I work closely with my mentors and my work has greatly improved because of it. My life has changed so drastically in just a year, making me truly believe that certain things happen for a reason.
Has it been a smooth road?
Is the road smooth for anyone? The rough trip is what makes us more interesting people, and what drives me to create art. While there has been many obstacles in my way, the most crippling is my self-doubt and need for everything to be “perfect,” which is impossible to do. I am extremely hard on myself, as I believe most creatives are. I think a bit of self-criticism can be healthy and necessary, it is when it hinders your ability to create that you’ve gone too far. I think ultimately it is important to make what you love, take criticism well, experiment lots, and don’t be afraid to fail because it is inevitable. Something that one of my mentors told me this summer that I am going to continue to carry into my practice is the phrase “Just make work without judgment, the judgment can come later” and it really opened up my ability to create LOTS.
We’d love to hear more about your work and what you are currently focused on. What else should we know?
I work in a very “mixed-media” way, meaning I have learned many different ways to make art and will use whatever medium necessary to get my point across. “Using everything and the kitchen sink” has been my motto lately because I have realized that the strict boundaries between painting, photography, printmaking, sculpture, graphic design, craft, etc. can be extremely limiting. I used to feel it important to stay true to my painterly roots but after allowing myself to be open led to an infatuation with fibers, photography, and screen printing in addition to my major area of expertise as a painter. I currently am having fun incorporating patterned textiles into paintings and photography.
While nothing will ever bring me as much joy as painting, what I am most proud of is my ability to learn new media very quickly and use them as avenues to create new opportunities. For example, the summer of 2015 I became determined to start making jewelry and eventually started selling it at farmers markets where people actually bought it! Additionally, I learned screen-printing well enough to work out of my apartment and make t-shirts to sell online as well as for small companies. Making art is truly my passion so I use any means of creating to support myself as best as I can.
What I believe, and hope, sets me apart from others is my attitude concerning art and the “art world.” While working in institutions, I realized everything was just too serious and it felt like everyone was afraid to have fun and to accurately express themselves. I try to make my work as accessible to all viewers as possible by using cheerful colors and patterns to negate any disturbing context I have incorporated into them. I am very open about my work and what it truly means to me, but at the end of the day I want the audience to appreciate the work for what it is in the moment they are viewing it.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
Having been in the DFW area for approximately five years has been such a harsh contrast to growing up in the Texas Hill country. Compared to where I am from, Dallas has a larger art community and more opportunities to work within a field I am interested in. DFW is also much more diverse and I love being able to learn from friends, fellow students and colleagues about what they are passionate about.
What I like least about living in DFW is how industrial the area is. Growing up, I went to the river almost every day during the summers and was spoiled by being next to amazing swimming spots like “Jacob’s Well” and the San Marcos River. Although I know there are some swimming places around the metroplex, they are not always accessible to everyone. Being surrounded by highways, strip malls, neglected buildings forces me to see the harsh reality that we are hurting our Earth and lack regard for our planet.
Pricing:
- “In Safe Hands” 13x19in print $70.00, original 8x11in $150.00
- “Godly Living” 13x19in mixed media piece $150.00
- “Spirit Guides” 13x 19in mixed media piece $150.00
- “Slipping Down The Drain” 13x19in print $70.00, original 8x11in $150.00
- “I Refuse to See The Pattern” 13x19in print $70.00, original 8x11in $150.00
Contact Info:
- Website: agalluzziart.com
- Email: annaclaragalluzzi@gmail.com
- Instagram: annagalluzzi
Image Credit:
Portrait image by Leslie Mauldin at the Modern in Ft Worth. All other images by Anna Galluzzi.
Getting in touch: VoyageDallas is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
