Monica Curiel Art

Monica Curiel's work is the result of an intuitive, visceral process that is never pre-planned. Each panel and piece is like a map of creativity in motion, defined by a monochromatic language of rich textures and layers of plaster.


Born in Texas to immigrant parents from Jalisco who made their living as labor workers, Curiel spent her formative years assisting them on job sites, where she was introduced to construction materials like plaster, house paint, and grouting tools. Now, these materials form the basis of her palette, drawing the artist back to her cultural roots with each sweep of the trowel. Plaster is humble but it is also magical, capable of being manipulated into any form. Though contemporary in nature, every Monica Curiel work is, at its core, a celebration of her Mexican heritage and every sacrifice made in pursuit of a better life.