The William R. Jenkins Architecture and Art Library is pleased to present Channels of Thought by student artist Jackelyn Raquel Cordova, on view through July 2018. The exhibit is free and open to the public.

Final Moments 2015 by Jackelyn Raquel Cordova. Acrylic on canvas.

Cordova is an undergraduate student in Painting at the University of Houston. She works primarily in acrylic and oil but also has an interest digital painting. Cordova was born and raised in the Houston area and takes influence from her family’s Mexican and European heritage. Her paintings have been shown in Houston and at numerous shows at the University. As she continues her work, she is looking towards MFA programs to advance both her experience and practice.

Artist’s statement:

As a child, I was always interested in the act of storytelling. I enjoyed listening and watching how people’s faces would change as the tale went on. I wasn’t entirely sure why it intrigued me, but I had recognized that people’s faces held stories behind them. This interest in faces led to my paintings being focused mostly on portraiture for several years. It was during my admittance into the Painting Block Program at the University of Houston that I was able to dig deeper into why portraiture interested me and it resulted in my paintings taking a new direction that explored narrative, the act of storytelling, and the creation of atmosphere.

I pull imagery from numerous places, although digging through memory allows me to have a deeper connection with each piece. I think back and I try to conjure imagery that has stuck with me throughout my life. Whether it’s religious iconography in the homes of my Catholic family, memories of travel, or even memories that seem mundane, I try to use anything that keeps coming back to me. Through following this I began this group of works.

The result of this process are paintings that have forced me to slow down and that also became a way of processing thought and memory. I paint while reflecting on myself and questioning what it is that bothers me or fascinates me. In the end, I feel that my paintings are about being able to understand myself and my way of thinking a bit more.