Lola Montejo Spanish, b. 1973
Lola Montejo creates paintings that combine the visual vocabulary of abstraction and expressionism by layering and juxtaposing incongruous forms, textures, and colors. Through a varied combination of studio techniques and processes, these paintings slowly reveal themselves. They are the synthesis of an experiential reaction to the materials she utilizes, beginning with deliberate shapes and marks that are sourced from cut and torn paper. As Montejo builds or deconstructs the surface of a painting, she is engaged in a combination of inductive and deductive reasoning. Her paintings are an amalgamation of emotive, cognitive, and action-based gestures. When she think about gestures, she thinks of emotion. The word gesture in Spanish is “gesto” meaning to move or be moved. Motion is both literal and implied throughout the act of making a painting and within the finished work of art. Through an interplay of color and form, the paint’s movement can appear both controlled and expressionistic. The painting itself functions as a transmitter of information, rather than an object. Painting is a manifestation of experience and memory. It is a language that embodies an intuitive path while making aesthetic choices through deliberate moves. In this sense, Montejo's paintings are equally representational and abstract. They reflect her inner world and the environment around her. Combining disparate materials and forms alludes to how memories are constructed, fade, or change over the course of time. With a multitude of sources and recollections, the push and pull between abstraction and representation is reflective of our times.
Through varied techniques and processes, Lola Montejo creates paintings which are emergent and sharp, offering complex layers and assemblages of the emotional, intellectual, and active. Lola’s layers her compositions in a complex, rhythmic manner. Her paintings are filled with both movement and structure and are defined by thoughtful color. Lola rearranges viewing and thinking about certain schools of art, and in the process, produces something more akin to what might be called expressed abstractionism.
Lola was born in Portsmouth, England in 1973. Since her family is originally from Spain, they returned to Madrid, where she spent her youth. From there the family traveled until finally immigrating to the United States when she was a teenager. Arriving to the US the family lived in New York, for a short time, where Lola first experienced American abstraction. The New York School Abstract Expressionism and their unrestrained freedom of expression have been a lifelong influence in Lola’s work.
The diverse places Lola has lived, has influenced her aesthetic in ways that are as layered as her work itself and serves as a foundation for Lola’s formal education; earning her BFA from the Metropolitan University of Denver where she studied on a full academic scholarship. Soon after, Lola did a graduate program at the University of Colorado Denver in Art Education and from there she continued her education at Azusa Pacific University in California where she earned her MFA in Studio Arts.
Lola now live in Denver, Colorado. She is a Professor at the Metropolitan State University of Denver where she teaches painting and drawing. She has exhibited her work in Colorado; California; Texas; Mexico City, Mexico; and Berlin, Germany. Her work is represented by William Havu Gallery in Denver, Colorado and Oehme Graphics in Steamboat Springs, Colorado
Born 1973, Portsmouth, England
Lives and works in Denver, CO
EDUCATION
MFA Studio Art, 2014-2017, Azusa Pacific University. Azusa, CA
MA Art Education, 2009-2011, University of Colorado, Denver, CO
BFA Painting, Minor in Art History, 2006-2008, Metropolitan State University, Denver, CO
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023
Encrypted Future, Moberg Gallery, Des Moines, Iowa
2022
New Form, William Havu Gallery, Denver, Colorado
After Another After, Arvada Center for the Arts, Arvada Colorado
2021
Women in Abstraction, William Havu Gallery, Denver, Colorado
2018
Order Disorder, Core New Art Space, Denver, Colorado
2017
Force, Robert Bullock Gallery, Azusa, California
2015
New Contrast, Core New Art Space, Denver, Colorado
2014
Madrilenia, Core New Art Space, Denver, Colorado
2013
Juego, Core New Art Space, Denver, Colorado
2011
Element, Sellars Project Space, Denver, Colorado
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024
Form & Texture, William Havu Gallery, Denver, Colorado
2023
Contemporary Abstraction, Moberg Gallery, Des Moines, Iowa
2022
Month of Printmaking Show, Space Gallery, Denver, Colorado
Contemporary Abstraction, Moberg Gallery, Des Moines, Iowa
2021
Rear Mirror, Lone Tree Art Center, Denver, CO
Art of the State, Arvada Center for the Arts, Arvada, Colorado
2020
Pink Progression, Invitational Show, The Arvada Center, Arvada, Colorado
2018
Colorado Abstract + 10, The Arvada Center, curators, Arvada, Colorado
Art of the State, The Arvada Center, Arvada, Colorado
Somatic Substratum, Exit Gallery, West Covina, California
2017
Hyper Objects, Exhale Unlimited Gallery, Los Angeles, California
Collective, selections from the collection, Museo Amparo, Puebla City, Mexico
For Your Consideration, Exhale Unlimited Gallery, Los Angeles, California
2016
Winter Electric, Artwork Network, Denver, CO
2015
Celebrate, anniversary show, Core New Art Space, Denver, Colorado
Blink, Evoke Art Gallery, Angeles, California
2014
Works on Paper, Fort Worth Arts Center, Fort Worth, Texas
Soirée at Denver Botanical Gardens, Denver, Colorado
2013
Tenn Street Art, Street Art, Denver, Colorado
2012
Negative Space, The Fu Collective Plus Gallery, Denver, Colorado
Galleria MDF, La Colección Changarrito, Mexico City, Mexico
Abstract on the Edge, Englewood Arts Center, Englewood, Colorado
2011
Marianneplats, Anonyme Zeichner, Berlin, Germany
Fine Line, The FU Collective, Denver, Colorado
Positive Art, Curtis Art Center, Denver, Colorado
Red Handed, Tenn Street Art, Denver, Colorado
2010
Denver Alliance Francais, Art of Giverny, Denver, Colorado
CORPORATE & MUSEUM COLLECTIONS
Kirkland Museum, Denver, Colorado
Polsinelli Law Firm, Denver, Colorado
Hoogwater Law Company, Littleton, Colorado
Griffis Parmer Clubhouse, Austin, Texas
Sage Brook Business Center, Denver, Colorado
Muhaisen and Muhaisne Law Firm, Denver, Colorado
El Cubano Recording Studio, Los Angeles, California
The International Barter Company, Alicante, Spain
Kunstraum Kreuzberg- Bethanien, Berlin, Germany
Changarrito Project, Premiant Collection at Mexic-Arte Museum, Puebla City, Mexico
PUBLICATIONS
Rebel Against Color, featured artist, by Jessica Daily, Luxe Interiors and Design, Jan 2022
Inside Pink Progression by Jessica Lorusso for 5280 Denver Magazine, June 29, 2020
5 Can’t Miss Summer Exhibitions, by Karah Kemberly for 5280 Magazine, June 18, 2019
Women in Abstraction, by Michael Paglia for the Westword, July 3, 2019
Women in Abstraction, by Jared Herzing for On Denver, June 15th, 2019
Triennial Shows Off the Art of This State, by Michael Paglia for the Westword, Feb 6, 2019
Artist Portfolio Magazine Issue 3, Abstraction, Published Aug 8, 2011
