Abstract painter Monica Maja Richardson will soon be holding an exhibition of her work in West London. Ahead of her exhibition, we spoke to her about how she made the transition from work in television to painting, and what to expect from her latest work.
Please tell us about your journey from working in television to becoming an artist.
I think my initial inspiration and interest in art came from my great-uncle who was a priest who painted as a hobby. My parents often took me to museums, but they weren’t too happy about me making a mess around the house, so I got used to painting after I left home.
I had a career as a TV presenter in Italy and traveled to film festivals all over the world. He started painting seriously after moving to London in 2004, and even back then he was primarily painting for himself, friends and family.
The big turning point was when we exhibited at Kensal Rise for the first time, and to our surprise, the show sold out. It gave me the strength to work full-time professionally and gave me the joy of knowing that people are emotionally involved with my art.
Why did you decide to become an abstract painter?
I loved art, but I didn’t think I could paint or do portraits. And without any formal training, the door to my art was firmly closed. In the early years, the art that attracted me was mainly Impressionist and Post-Impressionist works such as Van Gogh, Monet, Manet, and Degas, but I felt that I could not create such works.
I discovered Jackson Pollock and became aware of abstract art when I was a teenager. After that came Gerhard Richter, which was also a big discovery for me. The work of these two artists continues to be an inspiration to me, and I consider them both my spiritual teachers. As I work, I imagine how creative someone like Jackson Pollock would have been if he had the abundance of paints available to artists today.
Frida Kahlo is also a source of inspiration, even if her style is different from mine. I loved her as a woman, I loved her rebelliousness, I loved her resilience, I loved her strength. What really inspired me was her lifestyle and the fact that she is now more famous than the famous artist she was married to.
Can you tell us about the latest series of paintings that will be presented in your solo exhibition?
I have a studio so I can paint during the day, which is reflected in the colors and light in my paintings. We all have different energies during the day and night, and that can be seen in these pieces, which feel more relaxed and introspective. This exhibition is called “Transformation” and I feel that this is definitely a year of transformation for me and my paintings.
I consider them optimistic works, which are a reflection of how painting is a happy place for me when I’m working alone in my studio.
What do you want people to take away from your work?
I’m open to people interpreting my work however they like, and I’m always interested in what people see in my work, whether it’s faces or the natural world. When you start painting, you have no idea how your painting will look when finished. The shape becomes visible for the first time as you apply more and more paint.
What’s important to me is that people feel something when they look at my work. It is important for the audience to connect emotionally with my work because each piece is created with emotion.
As a woman working in television, I always felt like there was an age limit to my career as a presenter. I feel that age doesn’t matter when it comes to art. You can keep painting as long as you have the creative energy to keep working. And it’s going to be a very long time.
Monica Maja Richardson: Transformation will be held from 20th to 25th February 2024 at 19 Kensington Park Road W11 2EU.
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Tabish Khan
Art critic of both FAD and the London School. Visit as many exhibitions as possible and write reviews, testimonials, and weekly top fives for FAD.