Tania Rodriguez-Gonzalez is a sophomore studio art major and horror painter who hopes to become an art restorer.
Aspiring to attend the Kansas City Art Institute, Rodriguez-Gonzalez chose UMKC because of its affordability. The staff in the art department have convinced her she made the right choice.
“I really like that each professor has a skill in their teaching field,” said Rodriguez-Gonzalez. “For example, the painting professor, Ricky Allman, is a painter himself who holds exhibitions.”
She classifies her art style as “gore/horror” which can be seen in her painting “The Answer to Individuality.” The painting depicts herself murdering her two sisters.
“They consented to be murdered,” said Rodriguez-Gonzalez on her sister’s graphic role in her painting. “They thought it was a hilarious idea.”
Her main inspiration is Keith Haring, a New York based graffiti artist. His pop-art style stick-men are very different from Rodriguez-Gonzalez’s style. She wishes she could achieve his simplicity.
The idea of cleaning up old art helped her decide to be an aspiring art restorer.
“I’m very much a perfectionist and patient. I know cleaning paintings would be very tedious, but I end up on that road when it comes to my own paintings. I’m pretty detail-oriented,” said Rodriguez-Gonzalez.
She also hopes to continue creating art for commission work.
Bec Hayes, a junior studio art major, sits next to Rodriguez-Gonzalez in their painting class. Hayes spoke on their fellow art student’s work.
“Tania has a very detailed and meticulous approach with her work. Her paint strokes are solid, and direct,” said Hayes. “She is not afraid of the opinion of others and embraces a dark reality or creates her own, in order to get her point across.”
Rodriguez-Gonzalez doesn’t have any sites to display her work at this time.
“I keep getting told to post my stuff on platforms but I just don’t, I’m not sure why. Maybe I will someday, I just need some type of push,” said Rodriguez-Gonzalez.
