Today we’d like to introduce you to Josefina Barassi.
Josefina, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m a visual artist. Originally from Argentina (South America), I’ve been living in Houston, Texas since 2015. Quitting my job as an architect to become a full-time mother of two in another country forced me out of my comfort zone and changed my preconceptions and even the way I see life. I rediscovered art, it was inside of me all this time… My work ranges from drawing and collages to embroidery, ceramics and sculpture. I’m currently embroidering a quilt that tells the story of the pandemic. I started it on March, it’s now more than 16 ft long and growing everyday…
Has it been a smooth road?
It hasn’t, it still isn’t. Since I’m a full-time mom I can only choose night classes at the art school I attend and I do most of my work at night when the kids are asleep. I actually started embroidering because it was the only way I could make art WHILE doing my everyday activities: while taking care of the kids, while food is in the oven… Embroidering needs no setup (just fabric, loop, needle and thread). You can leave it and go back to it quickly, it’s easy to transport, it’s not messy at all… I had to adapt my art to my way of life. I do what I can when I can, but I never stop: it’s one tiny step forward everyday.
Please tell us more about your art.
I am a narrative artist, so most of my work tells a story or has a meaning behind. Even my clay boxes, which were a success during a student sale in my school and are now on sale at an art and design store in midtown, hold a message of awakeness.
I’m interested in limits: The separation between what we show and what we hide, what we see and what we don’t, what we know and what we ignore.
I’m proud of my ideas and the quality of my work. I’m interested in people’s emotions and how that affects our societies. I want my work to show this need to overcome our limits in search for a meaningful existence.
Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Yes, I think Houston is an amazing city for an artist. I would definitely recommend someone who wants to become a professional artist to start here. There is a wide variety of affordable art studio spaces, art galleries to show your work, grants, residencies, scholarships… The MFAH collections has pieces from some of the best artists in the world.
Pricing:
- Ceramic pieces: from $75 to $150
- Sketches and drawings: from $25 to $100
- Embroideries: from $25 to $50 (depending on detail and size)
- Pandemic quilt embroidery postcards: $3 each
Contact Info:
- Email: josebarassi@gmail.com
- Instagram: jomabarassi
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