Today we’d like to introduce you to Mokha Laget.
Hi Mokha, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve been an artist for as long as I can remember. Growing up in North Africa, there was a special quality to the light and the colors that made an indelible impression on my young eyes. I’ve traveled a great deal in my life, both when I was young and as a professional and this has informed my way of looking at the world in terms of patterns and colors, and cultural diversity.
The color was also significant when I later studied art at the Corcoran School of Art in DC. There was a more northern yet distinctive quality of light, and it inspired many of the Washington Color School (WCS) painters I studied with. During that time, I began working as a studio assistant to Gene Davis, a renowned painter of the WCS. It proved to be an invaluable experience in terms of seeing what it took to be a successful professional artist.
Ultimately, I left DC and moved to New Mexico which had many similarities with my Mediterranean home, in terms of the light, the mountains, and the cultural diversity. I built my off-grid art studio years ago atop 20 acres in the mountains of New Mexico. It’s only accessible with 4WD, at the top of a very steep road. The studio is a simple, free-standing, wood frame structure with 1,000 sq. ft. of working space. The stunning aerial views and isolation have provided me with a place of solace and tremendous creative vitality.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Being an artist is not a simple endeavor. Many people view artists as carefree individuals, but in reality, maintaining a professional practice in the arts requires a great deal of hard work. As an artist, you wear many hats – producer, designer, contractor, PR and HR representative, inventory and supply chief, archivist, grants writer, and institutional liaison – to name a few.
The irregular income from art sales can make it difficult to make ends meet, and if you need to take on another job to supplement your income, the balancing act can be challenging. I have been lucky to have a part-time job as a language interpreter for most of my career, but even with that, raising a family as a woman artist can be even more difficult. It can take a toll on your ability to create and take advantage of opportunities.
To succeed as an artist, It takes discipline, organization, and renewing yourself to keep your work exciting both to you and your audience. And you need to believe in yourself, persevere, and build a solid support system. Never give up on your passion.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As an artist, my main focus is exploring the relationship between the physical world and the human mind through my geometric abstractions on shaped canvases. I am particularly interested in the effect of color and structure on the viewer’s psyche and use my paintings as a laboratory for this exploration. I aim to create an immersive experience for the viewer by playing with changing perspectives and light sources, resulting in a sense of ambiguity and unexpectedness within the spatial relations of the painting.
My goal is not just to represent a purely optical space, but to investigate the psychology of perception and how humans process sensory information when faced with indeterminate spatial relations in a physical artwork. My work is influenced by historical references such as Renaissance perspective and world architecture, as well as postwar art movements like Color field, Bauhaus/Concrete art, and Light & Space.
However, I do not set out to reference any specific current or art movement. Besides my shaped canvases, I continue to experiment with other materials for shaped works. I’ve recently completed an edition of bronze sculptures and several suites of lithographs. My most recent show at Gallery Sonja Roesch included a series of drawings on paper representing visual scores for experimental music, which will be performed later this Spring.
I have been exhibiting with Gallery Sonja Roesch in Houston since 2014. As a European gallerist, her strong programming resonated with me as she represents international artists working in a minimalist aesthetic. I am excited to be a part of this gallery as Sonja is a consummate professional and also a founding member of the Houston Art Gallery Association.
Any big plans?
As an artist, I cannot imagine doing anything else with my life. My plans involve continually refining my ideas and creative processes, ensuring the sustainability of my practice, and connecting with other artists. These discoveries are a thrilling journey for me. Additionally, I am always seeking appropriate venues to showcase my work. Ultimately, I will have to consider what kind of legacy I want to leave behind through my art.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.mokhalaget.com
- Instagram: @mokha_laget.studio
