Peruvian-born artist Hilda Kilpatrick to exhibit at Prêt á Porter during November 8 ArtWalk

September 20, 2003

The public is invited to a one-day special exhibit of paintings by Hilda Kilpatrick at the fashion store, Prêt á Porter, located at 607 East Main Street (Suite C) in Ventura, during the November 8th ArtWalk between 3-9 PM. The artist will be on hand to discuss her artistic development and her work, which is for sale. A solo show at Accolades gallery in Ventura is scheduled for July 2004.

Hilda Kilpatrick was born in Peru and has lived most of her life in that country, in Trujillo – an art-filled and restored colonial city in the north – and the capital Lima, “where exposure to and appreciation for the arts thrives and is encouraged,” said the artist. “It has always been an inspiration to look at the churches filled with wonderful colonial paintings and magnificent altars – all hand made of gold in wonderful shapes.”

Hilda comes from a family of artists – her grandmother was a professional pianist, her uncle collects Peruvian paintings and her mother took up oils in her fifties. Her father is the attorney general for the Ministry of Economy. She first developed her interest in drawing and painting when she was twelve years old and her experience and skills have continued to grow throughout her life. As an art student and amateur painter, she studied with famous Peruvian portraitist and pastel artist Teresa Suarez Vertiz, now in her 90s.

“I always wanted to study art, but ‘it is not profitable’ people kept telling me. So I studied languages – Italian, English, Spanish and French,” the artist continued. “Some years ago I got a scholarship in Italy to continue my studies and I traveled throughout Europe with my backpack until money ran out.” There she encountered work of her favorite painters, Matisse and Van Gogh.

Hilda moved to California in 1998 where her art studies continued and her productivity increased. Recently, she has studied with painter, sculptor and conceptual artist Marcia Cummings of Ventura. Hilda enjoys working with pastels and oils to capture the beauty of the natural world around her. “My favorite subject matter is landscapes – mountains, the ocean, trees, the green of Spring, and the beautiful California skies” Hilda said. “I love capturing the color around me and putting it on canvas. I want to bring sunshine and happiness to the person who is looking at one of my paintings.”