Lola Gil - Through Her Looking Glass

It's not surprising that a very young Lola Gil spent unhurried hours among her grandmother's collection of small, humble figures and objects.

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Unfettered by preconceived judgments or the proverbial clock, she became acquainted and found an affectionate space for them in her universe. Remember those days? In her latest solo show, Who Are ( You ) Are Who, on view at Nino Mier Gallery in Los Angeles this past fall, stereotypical, almost frozen faces form the backdrop for her paintings, each featuring delicate, translucent glass animals in the foreground as glowing giants of light shine through, refracting myriad colors and angles, asking us to see the nuance, beseeching us to do the same with a stranger, or even someone familiar we haven't taken the time to understand. "As I work on these portraits, I feel the sensation of patience, curiosity, and forgiveness. The glass figure invites the viewer to see depth, feel empathy, and connect with the stranger on a human level." Shed your cynicism and meet Lola Gil.

Gwynned Vitello: I don't normally start at the literal beginning, but I did read that you wanted to become an artist at a very, very young age single digit? Reach back and tell me about the first thing you delighted in making.

Lola Gil: I have loved painting since I can remember. My relationship with painting became a need around the time I became a teenager. I had sadness growing up as a kid and wanted a creative outlet to help me cope with some hard home years. It wasn't until I was 18 and moved out on my own for the first time that I actually found delight in painting and became ready to escape with my art. I was obsessed with Bukowski, crime films, and Feng Shui. I painted various scenes of Italian mob figures in various situations and learned the importance of good composition.