Eva Mesa is a Dominican born, New York based artist whose practice explores memory, identity, and the quiet persistence of cultural inheritance. Born and raised in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, she moved to New York to immerse herself in the art world while pursuing a degree in Studio Art at Marymount Manhattan College.
After graduating, Mesa continued to expand her artistic practice, transitioning from figurative oil painting toward abstract and experimental work in acrylic and mixed media. Her work often begins with a conceptual idea, allowing materials and processes to become extensions of personal narratives and lived experience.
Mesa’s recent work reflects a shift toward material experimentation and the physical embedding of meaning within the surface of the painting itself. Rather than depicting images directly, she explores how objects, textures, and impressions can carry emotional and cultural significance. Through this approach, the painting becomes a site where memory, faith, and family history leave lasting marks.
Her work frequently reflects the tension between cultural identity and personal transformation. Living between the Dominican Republic and New York has shaped her relationship to faith, tradition, and self definition. These themes appear subtly within her materials and processes, allowing deeply personal experiences to be translated into abstract visual forms.
Currently Exhibiting in: New York, NY
Web: evamesa-artist.com
Featured Artwork at Bushwick Gallery
Title: Crucifix
Year of Creation: 2026
Medium: Acrylic on cotton
Dimensions: 18 × 20 in
Edition Type: Unique, 1 of 1
Location: New York, NY
Price: $800
Description
Crucifix emerged from a deeply personal moment connected to Mesa’s grandmother, Abuela Mercy. At ninety three years old, her grandmother gave Mesa a crucifix blessed by a bishop and asked her to keep it above her bed so that God could watch over her. Though Mesa no longer practices Catholicism, she kept the crucifix as a symbol of love, memory, and family connection.
In the work, the actual crucifix is pressed into stretched cotton before being painted over with purple acrylic. Rather than depicting the object visually, the form is physically embossed into the material, leaving a permanent impression within the surface of the painting.
This process reflects Mesa’s relationship to faith. Catholicism no longer appears on the visible surface of her daily life, yet its presence remains embedded through family history and cultural memory. The painting treats belief as something that may no longer be outwardly practiced but continues to shape identity from beneath the surface.
Crucifix also represents a turning point in Mesa’s artistic journey. After years of working in traditional oil portraiture, a studio accident destroyed a painting she had spent a year creating. The experience led her to abandon rigid expectations and embrace experimentation with new materials such as cotton, acrylic, and mixed media.
Through this work, Mesa merges personal memory, material exploration, and cultural reflection. The resulting painting becomes both a portrait of her grandmother’s presence and an imprint of the faith and family history that continue to shape her life.
Exhibition Information
Exhibition Title: Soft Shadows
Theme: Where light meets quiet transformation. This exhibition explores the subtle tension between illumination and restraint, examining moments where growth and clarity unfold without spectacle.
Media: Painting, sculpture, photography, installation
Exhibition Dates: March 19 to March 26, 2026
Opening Reception: Thursday, March 19, 6 PM to 8 PM