Artist Headshot

Nina Alderete


Burien, WA




The text, for me, is when the painting turns into art.

About Me

I create visual stories through surreal collage paintings, focusing on uncomfortable and often veiled emotions. These narratives are built intuitively through layers of materials and constructed personal symbolism. Materials such as vintage beads, old clothing, wax, paint, and thread create a seemingly vacant landscape to frame static figures. Figures are given new personas by changing their faces to inanimate objects to nearly expose their innermost thoughts and emotions. These graphically appealing collage figures feel simple yet stifling. Imposing an impossible polished veneer, it is unclear who the figure is or wants to be. Societal expectations have obscured the chance of an authentic self, making following the set cultural path safe and any deviation or outburst perilous. To give each figure a moment of exposed, vulnerable truth, handwritten and typed text is added. The text, for me, is when the painting turns into art. The look of the text can be subtle; the words are not. This momentary glimpse spotlights what is taught to be kept concealed., etc. in a nutshell - write in first person.

Examples of My Work

Fun Facts

  • Cats- I am obsessed! I have two little naughties who are in charge of me.
  • Cake- I go out of my way to try different cake shops. Buttercream is the best.
  • Stars- I am a sucker for a star filled night sky and a bright moon.
  • Rain- I love it. I never complain about the rain and the misty grey that comes with it.

More About Me

What one (art) item can you not do or go without?

An extra sharp 6H (extra hard lead so the lines will not smear) pencil.

If your life had a theme song

I don't know if I can really pick, but I listen to a lot of Neko Case, and I have a fondness for the song "California."

What inspires you?

Words, I have lines of songs or phrases in a book that go on repeat for me. When I look at my life or at my art, I am interested in what word or phrase gets stuck and keeps tumbling around until I can feel the shape of them in my mouth.