Interview
La Reina
La Reina is a German-born artist living in her chosen home of Spain. Her artistic identity is shaped by a rich tapestry of cultural influences: German roots, a subtle connection to the Netherlands, and a deep emotional affinity for the colors, symbolism, and rhythms of Mexico and Africa. This cultural fusion forms the foundation of her powerful and expressive visual language.
From an early age, La Reina displayed a strong sense of dramaturgy. Her works are not merely paintings but staged scenes on canvas—intense, theatrical, and emotionally charged. Using bold colors, exaggerated figures, and surreal elements, she creates dreamlike worlds that invite reflection and stimulate the imagination. Each piece becomes a moment frozen in emotion, balancing beauty and tension. Her style merges Mexican Magical Realism, African-inspired impressions, and European theatricality. Themes of transformation, transience, pain, and beauty frequently appear in her work, often expressed through folkloric motifs and symbolic imagery. For La Reina, art is a form of emotional expression and reflection—meant not only to please, but to challenge and provoke. As she says: “I don’t paint what I see—I paint what I feel, what I dream, or simply what resonates with me.”
What is your background and how did you start your journey in the art world?
“I come from an artistic family. My mother painted for many years before eventually moving into digital photography. For a long time, I believed that any artistic talent had somehow skipped me entirely. It wasn’t until much later that I felt a strong inner urge to bring color onto canvas myself—and that moment marked the beginning of my own artistic journey.”
What inspires you?
“I am inspired by colors, moments, and emotions rather than by a specific object itself. It is the feeling I am allowed to experience that truly inspires me.”
What themes do you pursue? Is there an underlying message in your work?
“I paint across a wide spectrum, depending on what is emotionally moving me at the moment. Often, my work carries a subtle sense of awareness—an understanding that everything is temporary, and that both excess and absence can feel overwhelming.”
How would you describe your work?
“I think in a typically chaotic way, with a touch of love.”
Which artists influence you most?
“There isn’t one single artist who touches me. It is the multitude of brave artists who dare to share and publish their work that truly inspires me. I believe every form of art is unique—it may speak to you, or it may not.”
What is your creative process like?
“My creative process begins with a feeling. If it stays with me, it gradually takes shape in my mind and develops into an idea. Only then does it move onto paper and finally onto the canvas. From the initial feeling to the finished piece, the process can take weeks or even months.”
What is an artist’s role in society and how do you see that evolving?
“I believe every artist has the potential to make the world a little more colorful—to question things, shape ideas, and inspire others to take their own step into the world of art.”
Website: la-reina-2.jimdosite.com
Brush Bio: www.brush.bio/lareina
Other links: www.artefantastisch.de
