Opus Umbra
Matt Drey Arts presents Opus Umbra, a collection of paintings and a drag show. Diego Garijo is a self-taught artist that uses emotion to inspire his paint brush. Diego’s work comes directly from his creative intuition, using pareidolia (the human ability to see shapes and make pictures out of randomness, like when one sees animal shapes while looking at the clouds). Diego begins his artwork by working paint around the canvas until he starts to see an image emerge, which he then brings to fruition by adding more detail. His main goal as an artist is to invoke emotion in the spectator. Diego believes "if someone says they felt something looking at one of my paintings, the job was done right.” Diego uses this cathartic experience to explore the darker side of his emotions and human nature. Opus Umbra, which is Latin for shadow work, displays Diego’s raw talent for exposing his inner demons and surrendering to what is.