ABOUT BRIGITTE BALBINOT

Origins and influences...

Contemporary abstract artist Brigitte Balbinot grew up in Switzerland. She is a full-time practicing artist who now works and lives in South Florida. Having both a Swiss and Italian heritage, her solid footprint in the old continent can be observed in her work from the choice of materials she uses to the intricate surfaces that she crafts. Her work is very much inspired by the natural world, its universal laws, and spirituality, alluding to life's impermanence.

The Terra Collection – These works are inspired by the various organic surfaces that can be found in nature and the landscape itself. Using cold wax and oil mediums, these pieces showcase textured surfaces and the use of aggregates such as raw pigments from mother earth.

The Ein Sof Collection – In this collection, Balbinot showcases a different approach to her work with more structured compositions that can be positioned either vertically (a metaphor for the tree of life) or horizontally (a metaphor for the landscape). These works are more conceptual and minimalist in nature. As part of her creative process, Balbinot explores the impact of meditation to open new creative, while remaining in a state of coherence. The use of solfeggio arpeggios and Tibetan healing sounds is often part of the creative process.

The Soham Collection - Are comprised of six pieces that were created for Balbinot's Solo Exhibit at Corazon Contemporary in Santa Fe, debut September 2022. These large-scale encaustic paintings are more minimalist and monochromatic than prior works, showcasing the depth and beauty of this very particular medium. Countless layers of wax are applied, molten at first, then fused with a blow torch. The techniques used include carving, scraping previous layers, and fusing, revealing the painting's history, and creating incredible visual depth.

About the process...

Balbinot works with different mediums such as oil, and the mix of cold and hot beeswax, also known as encaustic. Encaustic is a medium dating back to the Greco-Romans that requires the use of heat to fuse each layer application. Her process is complex and requires many months to reach completion. Techniques such as solvent reduction, and the use of organic materials and aggregates, such as dry pigments or marble dust, are mixed directly with the paint, allowing her to create rich and vibrant patinas of textures and colors. The crafting of these intricate and complex surfaces emphasizes the physicality of the material. The end result is surfaces that are very complex, celebrating the passage of time and life’s impermanence.

Balbinot is self-taught. Over the years she has been perfecting her skills through numerous workshops, classes, and mentorships, which has resulted in an ongoing progression of her work. She has collaborated on residential and commercial commissions in Canada and in the United States and has collectors in both North America and Europe. Currently, the artist shows her work in national galleries and selected curated exhibits.

ARTIST STATEMENT

My work is about our spiritual connection to the natural world and a deeper reflection

on life’s impermanence. Embracing the Wabi-Sabi philosophy, its minimalism and esthetic,

I emphasize the passage of time by creating patinas that are rich in both depth

and texture. I believe that art holds a crucial place not only in our own personal evolution

but on a global scale and has the potential to not only inspire but heal and change

our own state of consciousness. Emotions are what trigger change on a deeper level. A

better world begins by changing our inner being. I explore the concept of balance and

spirituality by holding each piece I create to a high standard of sophistication, using

minimalist and balanced compositions. Nature has a definite effect on our equilibrium.

Being in tune with it, and drawing from its source is essential to me and my greatest source

of inspiration. For that reason, I favor the use of materials that are from the earth such as

raw pigments and beeswax. My surfaces are intricate, complex, and organic, alluding

to the Japanese philosophy of the Wabi-Sabi that embraces imperfection and refers to

the never-ending cycle of life. In the end, I wish for my work to convey a sense of peace,

balance, and beauty.

BRIGITTE