by Pat Tyson

There are very few opportunities in life in which we are able to introduce our readers to a person who can become a legend. Please meet an extraordinary artist and painter, Alejandra Phelts.

When you look at Alejandra’s paintings, you can see her creativity and confidence. In each marvelous work you see her passion for color and contrast, truth and beauty, that make her creations come alive. Art is subjective and Alejandra’s ardent wish to share her delight in having the gift to bring that joy to others is evident in her works of art.

Alejandra Phelts was born in 1978 and raised in Mexicali, “A desert city in Baja California, where the weather is extreme, sunsets are beautiful – and where the light is privileged” is how she describes her birthplace artistically.

The youngest of five sisters, she was guided by a creative Mexican mother – a sewing artist who taught her how to love and appreciate the art, to cherish everything that was created by hand and to worry about perfection. Her German/Colombian father was a “wild booklover” who shared with her his knowledge and passion for art history and traveling. She is passionate about colors and contrast; the pursuit of truth and beauty.

“When I was eighteen, I traveled to France to study Philosophy,” she says, “and it was there my vision of the world changed completely. I took Art History classes, I’d visit museums, galleries and art shows regularly. My taste and knowledge for art was fascinating and exciting. It’s funny how I used to think that artists were only people who had supernatural gifts. I never thought I would become one!” She began her art studies at the Institut Privé de Philosophie et Théologie Saint Jean in Saint Jodard, France. Alejandra enhanced her studies by taking some courses in Art Appreciation and Art History in Northern Italy.

Following her studies in Europe, she returned to México to continue her education at the Institute of Fine Arts, Baja California, completing two years of her degree in plastic arts. She joined Ramon Castillo’s art workshop at the Culture House, where she held her first exhibitions. After her return, she also decided to study Artistic Education for Children and during that period, in 2002, she married and moved to Tijuana. A year later she visited a museum where she ran into artist with whom she talked for hours. That’s when she says she realized that art was the path she must take to become an artist. Since that time she has worked rigorously, not only to be a professional artist but to turn her talent and creativity into something more.

As a result of her participation in a number of exhibits, she has received many awards. Since 2001, her work has been shown in ten solo exhibitions and thirty group exhibitions throughout México and the United States. Her work has been selected in projects such as the Baja California Fine Arts Biennial in their editions XIV and XV, Codet National Painting Bienniel 2004; the “Center’s International Contemporary Artist Series,” to portray individuality during the 25th anniversary celebration of the “Center for US-Mexican Studies at the University of California, San Diego; as well as participating in the editorial project “Imagining Ourselves” of the International Museum of Women, San Francisco, California.

“It’s been twenty-three years and, to this very day, I’ve always considered art a wonderful journey, full of interesting experiences and people you meet along the way,” she states. She feels art is a daily choice that requires hard work, focus and concentration, a passionate profession that mixes both the public and intimate. “I consider it a gift that life gave me, along with great experiences, friends and trips.” And now she has a new series of artistic endeavors.

This started because of her personal desire to improve drawing the human figure and, in the process, she discovered the wonder of portraits – a space of unlimited artistic possibilities where, at the same time, techniques are required in order to achieve the similarity with the natural character, reflecting the physical qualities and having the liberty to express the inner qualities, the personality, temperament and state of mind.

She has found this series most enjoyable because it has led to her meeting new people who also appreciate and love art; people who wish to stay around through time with a painting – and who consider their portrait as a way of inheritance. In doing family portraits, her subjects have let her into their world and know the intimacy between brothers and sisters, parents and children. And from whence does she get her inspiration?

“Love!” she declared. My husband Miguel Angel, my beautiful boys, Iker and Dante. Traveling,” she added. “I have a great passion for exploring new places. We just got back from a trip to Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil… absolutely amazing! Also sunsets and my obsession with the ocean – due to the great view of the beach I have in my studio.