Rooted in the rich traditions of Western painting and reaching boldly into the visual language of the present, Nieves González (Huelva, 1996) creates work that both reveres and reimagines the past. Trained in classical technique and inspired by the Baroque masters, her paintings echo the chiaroscuro and symbolism of the 16th and 17th centuries, yet are unmistakably contemporary in tone. Through her careful layering of historical reference and modern sensibility, González constructs new visual narratives that speak to the aesthetic and emotional complexities of our time. A graduate of the University of Seville, where she completed both her BA and MA in Fine Arts, she has already garnered acclaim for her distinctive style, most recently exhibiting at JustMad art fair (2025). We caught up with the artist to talk about her daily practice, artistic influences, and what’s next on the horizon.
Let’s start at the beginning, can you tell us a bit about yourself and how you first found your way into making art?
I’ve been painting for as long as I can remember. When I was seven, my mother signed me up for painting classes in a small neighborhood art school — the kind that smells like old oil paint and has wooden easels held together with staples. I haven’t stopped since. It never even occurred to me to do anything else. Painting wasn’t a choice, it felt like the natural path, something both I and my family knew from the beginning. It was what I loved most, what everyone expected of me. Later I studied the arts track in high school and went on to get a degree in Fine Arts at university.
What does a typical day in the studio look like for you?
I wake up very early, have breakfast, shower, and then head to the studio — by car, walking, or by bus. When I take the bus, I use the time to read. Once I arrive, I answer emails and messages, sort out admin stuff, and then either sketch ideas or go straight into painting until lunchtime. Sometimes I go home to eat, other times I stay, depending on how urgent my projects are. In the afternoon, I keep painting until it’s time to go for a walk, meet a friend, or head home for dinner.
What’s currently on your studio playlist, or do you need total quiet when you’re creating?
I listen to everything: rock, flamenco, jazz, pop… One of the albums I always go back to is Omega by Enrique Morente, which also happens to be my partner’s favorite. It moves me deeply and helps me focus.
Are there any artists (past or present) who feel like kindred spirits or whose work has deeply shaped your own?
I really love Spanish Baroque painters like José de Ribera or Zurbarán. Among contemporary artists, there are many I admire for what they’re doing — Jenna Gribbon and Lisa Ivory, for example.
When you’re stuck in a creative rut, what do you do to shake things up and get back into flow?
I try reading, watching films, going for walks… Traveling or visiting my hometown also helps — it clears my head, breaks my routine, and gives me a fresh perspective.
And finally—what’s next for you? Any upcoming shows, projects, or dreams you’re chasing that you can share with us?
Right now I’m illustrating a luxury edition book, and soon I’ll be part of a group show in Rome — my first time exhibiting outside of Spain. I also have a few more projects in progress that I can’t reveal just yet, but I’m very excited about them. I’m in that moment where confidence and vertigo go hand in hand.
Keep up with Nieves’s latest work and studio moments on Instagram: @nievesgonnzalez
