Tactile. Industrial. Bright. Uplifting. Urban. These are just some of the descriptions for Linda Colletta’s artwork.
“I love painting! I hope people find my work uplifting, joyous and hopeful. My artworks should challenge the viewer” said Linda.
Linda Colletta is an artist that has worked hard to achieve her dream to paint. Starting out as a scenic artist in the 1990s, creating background work for live music performance including MTV, Colletta worked hard to prove her worth in a male controlled field.
“Working in a male dominated industry there was this continual exception to prove yourself and your work, has helped create my drive with painting” said Colletta.
After achieving success, Colletta made the decision to start painting as an artist and relocated from New York City to Connecticut.
Studying at Pearsons, Colletta has a knowledge and passion for the art form.
“A day off for me I would be in a studio painting by 11am. There is no other place I’d rather be.” said Linda.
Painting daily in her studio in Bridgeport. Painting brings Linda much joy in her life. There is something about her artworks that make you stop and think about what is the influence and also underlying message of the painting.
Influenced by the likes of Helen Frankenthaler, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Hilma af Klint. Colletta’s artwork are a composition of bright joyful colors, sometimes bold shapes but all with interesting double meaning titles.
“I remember when I visited the Whitney Museum for the first time and saw a Jean-Michel Basquiat artwork for the first time. It moved me to tears. I cried in front of the artwork” says Colletta reminiscing about seeing one of her favorite artists for the first time.
What is remarkable about Linda is that she is influenced by two female artists. The art world has very few recognized female artists and it inspiring to see that the influence of these two female artists and their artworks have provided inspiration for a strong female artist in the 21st century.
“These artists and my own work are a breakdown on the traditional art form. They are deconstructing but also creating their own language for the viewer” says Linda.
The success of Linda Colletta is because her artwork is engaging and captivating. She is continually growing her exposure using social media, such as Instagram, as she goes from strength to strength. The sheer creativity of her artworks and the visual experience by the viewer, is what makes her works memorable.
Her artworks represent an association with sugar. Some of her works are directly related to food, “It’s a Cupcake Panic Party”, “A Cup of Something Frothy” or “Lollypops”. All of these paintings are direct references to food and can be traced back to the ongoing recovery process that Linda Colletta is experiencing from her compulsive eating addiction. She had issues with sugar, cakes and cookies and her artwork assists with the ongoing healing process.
“We need to talk more about these eating addictions. During this pandemic the world had an obsession with food, and still does.” says Colletta.
The coming year has some exciting opportunities for Colletta including a residency in Vermont and the upcoming Arts Market in the Hamptons.
A day trip to Bridgeport Connecticut is definitely worth it to see these mesmerizing works by Linda Colletta.
More information is available through her website https://lindacolletta.com/ or follow her on Instagram @lindacolletta