Artist Profile: Issis Macias
Martin Jenich Photography
Issis Macias, a self-taught artist and daughter of Mexican immigrants, was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. In 2020, amid the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic and a significant career shift, she became a new mother and embraced her art as a means of healing. Primarily working with acrylic and oil pastels on canvas, her intuitive abstraction style, brought to life through vibrant colors, explores the spectrum of human experience, transforming the deeply personal into the universal. Now based in Madison, Macias continues to maintain strong ties to Los Angeles through various artistic collaborations.
You have some really beautiful collaborative works with Eric Escobar and Rodrigo Carapia. How have you developed your collaborative processes with each of these artists? What have been some meaningful lessons you’ve learned with these projects?
The experience of collaborating with Eric and Rodrigo has taught me that successful collaboration goes beyond blending skills. It’s about finding a rhythm between visions, respecting creative space, and building something greater together. When Eric and I worked on our art project in the fall of 2021, we were able to create something beyond what we had imagined by merging our styles. I began by painting a canvas with vibrant abstract colors in my signature style, and Eric added his surrealistic touch in oil pastels. Our combined techniques resulted in unique pieces that showcased our unique perspectives and creative synergy.
Inspired by that experience, I connected with Rodrigo Carapia, also based in Madison, to collaborate on a project celebrating our shared Mexican heritage. In February 2023, we exhibited our collaborative work at the Overture Center, sponsored by Latinos Organizing for Understanding and Development, a nonprofit arts organization based in Madison. This exhibition allowed us to celebrate aspects of our Mexican culture and share them with the community, hopefully inspiring viewers to reflect on their own life journeys and the power of artistic collaboration.
These projects have taught me that successful collaboration requires trust, mutual respect, and genuine appreciation for each other’s work. There’s beauty in letting go and embracing the magic that happens when two artists come together.
How do you prepare for or begin a new painting or project?
Before beginning a painting, I make sure my work area is free of clutter, and that paints and brushes are within reach. Music is essential in my creative process, and the melodies and lyrics of a few favorites like Nina Simone, Devendra Banhart, and Natalia Lafourcade nurture my creative zone and allow my mind to shut down and my intuition to speak in colors, lines, and textures.
What other artistic mediums have you explored throughout your life? What is it about painting that made you feel this was a medium you wanted to dig into and focus on sharing your histories and experiences?
I’ve experimented with collage and acrylic on canvas and occasionally dabble in watercolors, but it’s never felt like the right fit for me. It requires a level of precision and patience that doesn’t resonate with my creative style. What draws me to abstract painting is the freedom it offers. It’s a process of surrender, letting the colors and shapes guide me rather than trying to control them. Painting is a deeply spiritual experience for me—when my mind quiets, my soul finds its voice through colors.
It is also cathartic because it embraces messiness. I can fully immerse my hands in the process, layering paint as much as I need without the pressure of perfection. There are no mistakes, just new possibilities. Layering oil pastels over the paint adds an element of playfulness, helping me reconnect with the lighter, freer parts of myself. This blend of spontaneity and expression makes painting the perfect medium for sharing my experiences and inner world.
Martin Jenich Photography
What are 2 to 3 exhibitions, concerts, books and/or book talks, spoken word events and/or films you’re hoping to check out this season in Wisconsin or virtually?
I’m excited to take my four-year-old daughter to the Nutcracker Breakfast with Santa at The Edgewater hotel on Saturday, December 7th. This will be our second time attending, and we can’t wait to share breakfast with the Nutcracker characters and enjoy a wonderful performance by the Central Midwest Ballet Academy. The festive ambiance really gets us into the holiday spirit.
I’m also excited to have an exhibition up at the Art Lit Lab. Ethereal Spaces is on display through December 21st. I had a wonderful opening recently and got to share such a special evening with friends, family and community.