Audio By Carbonatix
Phoenix is brimming with creativity. And every other year, we put the spotlight on 100 of the city’s creative forces. Leading up to the release of this year’s Best of Phoenix issue, we’re profiling 100 more. Welcome to the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives. Up today: 37. Monica Robles.
Creating is a round-the-clock endeavor for Monica Robles.
By day, Monica Robles works in graphic design. By night, she’s a studio artist.
But the Phoenix creative wasn’t always set on a career in the arts.
See also: Tempe Artist Rossitza Todorova: 100 Creatives
“As a young child I taught myself to sketch and draw by copying photos out of my parents’ magazines,” Robles says. “I wasn’t surrounded by art growing up so I really wasn’t pushed to be involved in any art classes. Once I was in high school, I stepped away from sketching and drawing and focused on studying advanced math, which I truly did enjoy. It wasn’t until I began at the University of Arizona that I would find myself returning to my artistic roots.”
She credits her time at U of A for pushing her into a more artistic headspace. “This is where I branched out and my creative mind kicked into full gear,” she says. “One of my professors told me about this army surplus junk yard off of the freeway and that’s when my mind just exploded with creative ideas. That’s really where my love for used/recycled objects began.”
Now, she splits her time between graphic design projects, including work for 5th Row Dance Studio and The Lab Pop-Up Gallery, where she also arranges artist exhibitions.
Her current projects include creating furniture pieces and gearing up for a fall show.
“I’m getting ready for our upcoming one-year-anniversary party at the end of September at our new location on Grand Avenue for 11th Monk3y and The Lab Pop-Up Gallery,” Robles says. “I’m going to be showing new art pieces, and for the first time, I will be doing a wall installation. (I’m crossing my fingers on that one!)”
After graduating from the University of Arizona, I moved to Phoenix for a change and to experience a bigger city atmosphere. I moved to downtown Phoenix for the art scene and the diverse mix of people.
I create art because I truly love working with my hands and making art with objects that have been discarded. I enjoy giving them new life and new meaning.
I’m most productive when I’m under pressure, probably like most artists. But I most enjoy when I lose track of time and work for endless hours. The end result is all worth it!
My inspiration wall is full of illustrations, including two art prints, one from Sentrock (Fight the Good Fight) and the other from Mikey Jackson. I also have images that inspire me that I’ve cut out from PRINT and Dwell magazines.
I’ve learned most from watching and just getting my hands dirty and “diving” in. I’ve gone from creating oil paintings – mixed media paintings – graphic design- photography – to building furniture. I’ve been so lucky ever since we started the Lab on Roosevelt, I’ve got to meet and be surrounded by so many creative people. And working alongside Ruben Gonzales at our studio space — he’s taught me so much. I truly believe you continue to evolve as an artist especially when you start meeting new artists and sharing ideas. It’s really a never-ending, creative process.
Good work should always inspire others and make people excited.
The Phoenix creative scene could use more spaces that have equipment readily available for artists to use.
See the 2014 edition of 100 Creatives:
100. Bill Dambrova
99. Niki Blaker
98. Jeff Slim
97. Beth May
96. Doug Bell
95. Daniel Langhans
94. Nanibaa Beck
93. Nicole Royse
92. Ib Andersen
91. Casandra Hernandez
90. Chris Reed
89. Shelby Maticic
88. Olivia Timmons
87. Courtney Price
86. Travis Mills
85. Catrina Kahler
84. Angel Castro
83. Cole Reed
82. Lisa Albinger
81. Larry Madrigal
80. Julieta Felix
79. Lauren Strohacker
78. Levi Christiansen
77. Thomas Porter
76. Carrie Leigh Hobson
75. Cody Carpenter
74. Jon Jenkins
73. Aurelie Flores
72. Michelle Ponce
71. Devin Fleenor
70. Noelle Martinez
69. Bucky Miller
68. Liliana Gomez
67. Jake Friedman
66. Clarita Lulić
65. Randy Murray
64. Mo Neuharth
63. Jeremy Hamman
62. La Muñeca
61. Kevin Goldman
60. Emily Costello
59. Kerstin Dale
58. Vara Ayanna
57. Nathaniel Lewis
56. Ruben Gonzales
55. Lisa Poje
54. Bobby Zokaites
53. Frances Smith Cohen
52. Julie Rada
51. David Miller
50. Xanthia Walker
49. Kyllan Maney
48. Cary Truelick
47. Constance McBride
46. James D. Porter
45. Allyson Boggess
44. Abigail Lynch
43. Ashley Cooper
42. Jaclyn Roessel
41. Brandon Boetto
40. Melissa Dunmore
39. Gavin Sisson
38. Rossitza Todorova
