Artist Statement

My art is an ode to the beautifully complex and contradictory nature of human existence, including my own. I find inspiration not just in the outer world, but the highs and lows of my inner self - the insecurities, joys, shadows and radiance that make up the human experience. It's a tender appreciation for our immense potential to find light even in darkest moments through vulnerability and authenticity.

The humblest scenes become my muse - a vibrant flower, fluid clouds, city textures, fleeting expressions. I transform these unassuming fragments into resonant narratives exploring profound themes. Blurring boundaries between photography and painting allows me to construct layered worlds that hopefully enrapture viewers on an emotional level and spark self-reflection.

This artistic quest is an eternal voyage of discovery - a perpetual pursuit to channel personal truths and emotions into resonant creations. It's an odyssey fueled by vulnerability, one that bares the depths of my own being alongside the collective intricacies of the human experience. With authenticity as my compass, I strive to craft works that transcend being mere visual landscapes. Instead, each piece becomes an evocative poem, a tender ode celebrating the fragile beauty inherent in our shared journey of shadows, light, contradictions, and the resilient radiance of the soul. There is no arrogance or pretense in this endeavor, only an unwavering dedication to honestly interpreting life's nuances through the tactile alchemy of artistic expression.


Bio

Ileana, a professional in graphic communications and advertising, originally hails from Mexico City. After completing her studies in San Diego, California, she returned to her hometown to embark on her professional journey. Ileana's career commenced as a copywriter, graphic designer, and creative director at several advertising agencies. However, her strong artistic inclination, particularly in painting and photography, soon became her true calling.


Embarking on a path of exploration, Ileana delved into painting techniques and skillfully merged her expertise in photography and computer graphics to develop a unique visual expression. Today, she is an independent visual artist and photographer, whose artistic prowess has garnered international recognition and accolades from prestigious organizations such as the Better Photography Magazine, Gala Awards (Julia Margaret Cameron Award for Women Photographers), Mobile Camera Club, PH21 Gallery, Mobile Photo Awards, Mobiography Awards, Mobgraphia Cultura Visual, Prix de la Photographie Paris, and Tokyo International Foto Awards.


Ileana's work has graced exhibitions worldwide, from Argentina, Brazil, France, Hungary, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Portugal, Spain, Turkey, and the United States. In 2017, she unveiled her debut solo exhibition, "Fragmentos de Luz," in Mexico City, marking a significant milestone in her artistic journey. Additionally, she has been featured in and collaborated with influential blogs focused on mobile art and photography.

In May 2023, Ileana published her first book, titled "L'ego meurtri. Hommage à Gilbert Garcin."

Through her art, Ileana endeavors to evoke profound sensations. Her creations are a fusion of intertwined images and narratives, infused with her own emotions and feelings. Drawing inspiration from life's minutiae, she aims to transform them into emotionally resonant works that forge connections and strike a chord with the collective human experience.

Ileana's work has been featured in relevant international photography publications such as  Better Photography Magazine and OneTwelve Publishing.


Education

  • Graphic Communications, University of California San Diego, 1988.
  • Radio & TV Commercial Copywriting, Columbia School of Broadcasting, 1988.
  • Radio Announcer License A, Secretaría de Educación Pública, México, 1986.
  • Diplôme De Langue Française de Paris, Alianza Francesa de México, 1985.
  • Text-based Prompting for Professionals  (Promptology I and Promptology II) with  Boris Eldagsen. June-July 2023.
  • Midjourney for Creatives with Nick St. Pierre. September-October 2023.


Selected Solo Exhibitions


2023

"L'ego meurtri. Hommage à Gilbert Garcin." Photo Book Presentation and Exhibition, Patricia Mendoza Art Gallery, San José del Cabo, B.C.S., Mexico.

2017

Fragmentos de Luz, German Centre, CDMX, Mexico.



Selected Group Exhibitions


2024

Self Portrait In Focus First Prize and Honorable Mention.Decagon Gallery. Brooklyn, New York.

2023

MIRA Mobile Prize Street Photography Black & White 2023 Exhibition. Porto, Portugal.

Mobgraphia Mobile Photo Festival 2023. Sao Paolo, Brazil.

"Upside Down" A curated international photography exhibition. PH21 Gallery. Budapest, Hungary.   "Public Space: by Ileana Montaño

2022

MIRA Mobile Prize Street Photography Black & White 2022 Exhibition. Porto, Portugal.

MIRA Mobile Prize 2022 Exhibition. Porto, Portugal.

2021

Barcelona Foto Biennale. FotoNostrum, The Mediterranean House of Photography. Barcelona, Spain.

Melancholia a FotoNostrum Exhibition, The Mediterranean House of Photography. Barcelona, Spain.

2020 

All Colors of the World, Palazzo di Città. Cagliari, Italy.

2019

The Beauty Myth Exhibition, Copernico Gallery, Milan, Italy.

Mobile Camera Club. Colloque Mobile et Création Des Arts et Des Mobiles organisé par l’IRCAV-P3. Paris, France.

2018

Mobile Camera Club. Colloque Mobile et Création #foodporn: les mobiles du désir organisé par l’IRCAV-P3. Paris, France.

"Mobile" A juried international photography exhibition. PH21 Photography Gallery. Budapest, Hungary.

2017

Festival e Prêmio Latino Americano de Mobgraphia 2017. Museu da Imagem e Do Som. Sao Paolo, Brazil.

              


Awards


2024

Self Portrait In Focus First Prize and Honorable Mention. Decagon Gallery. Brooklyn, New York.

2023

Black & White Shortlist MIRA Mobile Prize Street Photography Black & White Prize 2023. Porto, Portugal.

First Prize in the Digital Art Category. Mobgraphia Mobile Photo Festival 2023.  Sao Paolo, Brazil. 

2022

Gold Winner in Fine Art. PX3 Prix de la Photographie de Paris. Paris, France.

Black & White Prize Shortlist 2022 MIRA Mobile Street Photography. Porto, Portugal.

MIRA Mobile Prize Shortlist 2022. Porto, Portugal.

2021

Photographer of the year 2021 NominationMobiography Awards: Digital Art Honorable Mention and Street and Urban Honorable Mention.

Self Portrait Series Honorable Mention. The World WidePhotography Gala Awards: 16th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards for Women Photographers.

First Price in the Digital Mixed Media Category. The National Association of Digital Artists (naDA) International Competition "Images Of Resilience". California, U.S.A.

Self Portrait Honorable Mention, Fine Art Honorable Mention. 10th Annual Mobile Photo Awards

SilverPrize Second Place in the Fine Art Category. Tokyo InternationalFoto Awards 2021. Tokyo, Japan. 

2020

Mobile Digital Art and Creativity Summit (MDAC 2020). Top 11 Winners. California, USA.

Fine Art/Collage Honorable Mention in the Fine Art Category. Tokyo International Foto Awards 2020. Tokyo, Japan.

Honorable Mentions. The World WidePhotography Gala Awards: 15th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards for Women Photographers. Women seen by Women and Cell Phone Categories Honorable Mentions.

Self Portrait Honorable Mention. 9th Annual Mobile Photo Awards.

2019

Self Portrait 1st Price, Self Portrait Honorable Mention, Black and White Honorable Mention. 8th Annual Mobile Photo Awards.

Fine Art and Self Portrait Categories Honorable Mentions. The World WidePhotography Gala Awards: 14th Julia Margaret Cameron Awards for Women Photographers.

2018

Self Portrait Honorable Mention. 7th Annual Mobile Photo Awards.


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