Maker Monday: An aspire Exclusive Interview With Guillermina Neri

Guillermina Neri, known professionally as NERI, is a multidisciplinary artist from Rosario, Argentina, working across painting, clothing design, makeup, jewelry, illustration, digital art, and sculpture. Her career includes exhibitions, murals, and live-painting events in Argentina, Spain, Miami, and Uruguay, as well as collaborations with brands including Edding and POSCA. In 2023, she published En Busca del Sentido, a book of digital artwork presented at the Buenos Aires International Book Fair, with all proceeds supporting the nonprofit Alas para Soñar. NERI has also participated in a modern art history seminar in New York and became the first Latin American artist in residence at Haligon Fine Art in Miami. Her current work centers on abstract landscapes defined by playful color, expressive gestures, and soft, dreamlike movement. Learn more about NERI and her mesmerizing artwork in today’s Maker Monday.

Andrew Joseph: What is something nobody knows about you?
Guillermina Neri: Something that many people who only know my artwork don’t know about me is that I am a fashion designer and a makeup artist. I have always been passionate about the world of aesthetics and about using these tools to change the way people see things.

I am a very curious person, and that trait led me to study astrology (just like my mom). I discovered an abstract realm that completely revolutionized my worldview. Today, in addition to painting, I am passionate about teaching art and guiding people through processes of personal transformation using the symbolic language of astrology and mandala meditation.

AJ: Favorite app?
GN: My favorite app is CapCut. I love making videos, editing moments, and creating memories that stir the emotions. I absolutely love filming, taking photos, and capturing key moments. Anything that involves creating new perspectives and sharing them with the world truly nourishes my soul.

AJ: Favorite city for recharging your energy?
GN: I’m not sure if I have a single “favorite city.” I feel that I recharge my energy in moments and places I sometimes couldn’t even imagine. When I travel, the secret is to go without any expectations; sometimes I’m surprised to find that a small village can give me more energy than a grand, imposing city. It doesn’t depend on the specific location, but rather on the entire context and my own openness to receiving that potential energy.

AJ: Your favorite scent?
GN: In nature: jasmine. And as a perfume: Nectar d’Issey by Issey Miyake.

AJ: What are you excited about right now?
GN: Right now, I’m excited to share a new artistic perspective I’ve been working on following a truly revelatory trip I took to Bosnia and Herzegovina. It involved reconnecting with faith, religion, and the Virgin Mary — viewed as the ultimate symbol of Peace — as well as exploring the possibility of incorporating figurative elements into my artwork.

I haven’t painted in nearly six months, and I’m eager to see how that journey will ultimately influence my work.

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