Carlo Polidoro Lopez is a Concordia Fine Arts student, and is already making waves in the art world! Being followed by art consultant Michel Giraud and participating in the Art Matters Festival in partnership with Art Souterrain are two examples of his early progress. Also, he is preparing an exhibition with emerging artist Razan Al Sarraf based in New York City.
Jano Lapin with Carlo to discuss his process, his inspirations, and his evolution as an artist. Being from an Italian, Canadian, and Ecuadorian background, he has a unique way of approaching his works of art.
How did you decide you wanted to be an artist?
I was studying at Dawson in another field, and during an art class I was taking, my teacher mentioned something special in my work. Ultimately, I decided to apply to Dawson’s Art program, which accepted me.
Since my artwork and studies were doing well, I chose to pursue my studies at the prestigious Concordia Fine Arts program. At 38 years old, I am considered a mature student in the program, and with one year left, am still very happy to have chosen this path.
I feel as though the path was chosen for me as opposed to something that I always wanted to do. I followed my intuition in my decision-making process.
How has your work evolved as an artist?
I used to be a musician, a guitar player, so I always enjoyed creating. Today, I focus on visual arts, but my pieces are steadily evolving. I recently built my first sculpture and even my first installation. Seldom, my artistic direction in an artwork can come from a happy accident, which I embrace.
I am inspired by my daily life, meaning that the elements in my environment can all influence me. Its a combination of the people in my life, my family, my friends, being in Montreal, and, of course, my personality and culture. I listen to my instincts when it comes to my artworks. The famous artist Basquiat used to state that, and I can relate with him.
What is your studio work process?
I enjoy working on many pieces at the same time. Sometimes, it takes time for me to find the right element to complete an art piece. In contrast, an item can be in my studio a long time before I choose to include it in one of my artworks. I have been given many objects over time from people in my life who know what I do. It is nice to be able to include these elements in my work; it can give a personal touch.
How has your Italian heritage affected you?
Well, since my mother is Italian and my father is from Ecuador, I have both influences in my life. From my Italian side, I remember that my Nona used always to give me a gift when I was leaving. It could be anything, from money, food, or just something lying around that could be helpful. It was a small gesture of kindness during our departures. It marked me, and now I do it too.
To anyone in my life that I care about, I show I appreciate them this way. Of course, my mother and her whole family have influenced who I am today in many other ways as well. I am proud to say that I am both Italian, Ecuadorian, and Canadian.
What advice would you give someone who wants to become an artist?
First of all, I want to say that I love to share advice when I can and help others achieve their goals, including to my peers. One of the most powerful tools that I enjoy using is Social Media. I especially like to use LinkedIn and Instagram, but many platforms can help.
Small meaningful actions can lead to opportunity. You never know when something can come out of a genuine compliment!
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Photo credit Brian Lapuz
Founder/Editor-in-chief/Creative Director. Passionate about the city of Montreal, discovering its various cultural components as well as exploring foreign places. I am inspired by artists, innovative concepts, philanthropy, creative encounters, and cultural events. View all posts by Anne Jano