Interview: Eileen Starr Moderbacher
Luca Curci talks with Eileen Starr Moderbacher during the 15th Edition of VENICE INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR 2022, at Palazzo Bembo.

Eileen Starr Moderbacher is a graduate of California College of the Arts in San Francisco with an MFA in Painting. She is a bi-coastal artist based in Berkeley, California and Brooklyn, New York. Most recently she has had a solo show at SHOH Gallery and Sticks Framing in Berkeley. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally.

“My process involves merging inspiration with emotion to create original works that resonate with people. When I see a captivating artwork or even an intricate pattern on a simple piece of fabric I am flooded with fresh ideas and a new artistic vision. I use this “aha moment” to create a unique color palette, which I then take to the canvas. The movement and composition of the painting change and unravel dramatically as I add new elements and eliminate others. The painting and I are in deep dialogue. This intrinsic dialogue allows me to decipher the essence of each piece and create works that pull the viewer into the world of color that I love so much, and makes life so much more vibrant for us all”.

Luca Curci – What’s your background? What is the experience that has influenced your work the most?
Eileen Starr Moderbacher – I graduated from the California College of the Arts in San Francisco with an MFA in Painting, and a graduate in the Art Institute of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois with a BFA in printmaking. Most recently, I have had a solo show at Sticks Framing and Art in Berkeley, California. What has influenced my work the most is my conscious shift from being a painter of figurative-narrative paintings to abstract-narrative or non-objective paintings. It has opened up a new world for me and has let me get in touch with my inner self. And what inspires me is color. I love color! Light or dark, vibrant or dull, subtle or harsh – I love it all. The joy of working with an endless array of colors gives me great satisfaction.

LC – Which subject are you working on?
ESM – I am thinking of seeds; seeds of being, life, water, floating in the sky.

LC – How is your creative process?
ESM – My process involves merging inspiration with emotion to create original works that resonate with people. When I see a captivating artwork or even an intricate pattern on a simple piece of fabric, I’m flooded with fresh ideas and a new artistic vision. I use this ‘aha’ moment to create an original color palette, which I then take to the canvas with renewed enthusiasm.

LC – Are your artworks focused on a specific theme?
ESM – Not really. If any theme it would be a focus on optimism and joy.

LC – How is being an artist nowadays?
ESM – In my opinion, the role of an artist in society is to enrich people’s lives in one form or another. Creativity is a basic human drive, and need, I think, that tends to get minimized and ignored in our type of post-industrial society. As technology develops and people do not need to work as many hours as they used to in pre-industrial society, more people could be engaged in much more meaningful and fulfilling creative activities. As active artists nowadays, we are faced with stiff competition from social media, video games, technological society, more alienation, and less stability as a society. I find it works best for me to ignore all that and concentrate on developing my work.

LC – We were attracted by your last artistic production, has the artwork presented been created for the exhibition or as a part of preexisting works?
ESM – My artwork, Continental Divide, is a part of my pre-existing works.

LC – Do you agree with our vision of art and what do you think about the theme of the exhibition?
ESM – If you mean the theme of the exhibition is FUTURE LANDSCAPES, I think it is an interesting theme to explore. But to tell you the truth I was unaware of a theme for the exhibition when I applied. However, that being said, I think my painting, Continental Divide, fits in very well with the theme.

LC – What do you think about the organization of our event?
ESM – Working with Giulia Tassi was an absolute pleasure from the very beginning to the end of our constant email stream. She is very communicative, and very well organized. And explains everything very well. I cannot say anything about the organization of the event because I am too far away and I will not be able to attend the event in Venice, unfortunately.

LC – Would you suggest a collaboration with us? What do you think about our services?
ESM – Of course, I would suggest a collaboration with your organization to whomever I come into contact with. Your services are excellent.