Meet the Artist

Hi, I’m Ría!

So, why food and drink as my subject matter? I grew up in a small house amidst a big European family, where any reason to celebrate meant good food and a table full of people. It followed me into the service industry, where I’ve worked everywhere from little mom-and-pop breakfast spots to fine dining and behind the bar. I fell in love with the craft of cocktails, the energy of restaurants, and, most of all, the different characters who sat in my section. Their stories, their willingness to speak with a stranger, or barely noticing me because they were too distracted catching up with friends or deliberating over hot topics.

That love naturally found its way into my paintings. I paint vibrant still lifes, cocktails, and food inspired by my travels, personal experiences, and the moments I’ve witnessed from behind the counter. Sometimes it’s a drink I tried somewhere new, a dish that takes me back to a certain night, or a table left behind after everyone has gone home.

For as long as I can remember, my dream has been to travel and paint. Now, I’m hoping to build a life that lets me do exactly that: experience new places, cultures, and food, and turn those experiences into art.

At the end of the day, I paint memories I wish to encapsulate. It’s not my fault that my strongest associations with them are cocktails, I'm 22 years old, we'll get to tea later.