Artist Statement (Fusion)

Personal data privacy has been greatly impacted by technological advances. My fascination with data and social media has led me to question how personal information is utilized. Information is compromised each time we navigate the web. Beyond the surface, there is a hidden network of sites where people can operate without restrictions. Technology has both brought out the best and the worst of us.

According to Jamie Bartlett, author of the book titled The Dark Net, around the world there are between 1.73 billion and 1.86 billion active social media users sharing information of who they are, what they like, and who they are with. This information is stored in databases where sometimes agencies have unrestricted access without knowledge or approval of the user. Oftentimes, developers building this technology go the extra mile to acquire the personal information of millions of users.

My background as a computer engineer inspired me to combine art and data in my works. Using encaustic, a technique used in ancient times to preserve mummy portraits let me portrait  these concepts. I am depicting modern and complex ideas that emerged out in the works compositions. Encaustic has the property to fuse and melt as a result images appear concealed and revealed. I have created narrative using techniques such as printmaking, photography, collages and drawings. By fusing the bee’s wax and adding pigments the encaustic medium allows me the ability to explore the nostalgia and chaos inside the complex use of data and social media today.

Biography

Magda Macías currently resides in The Woodlands, TX.  In 2024, she got her MFA in Art and Social Practices at Sam Houston State University. In 2019 she completed her Bachelor in Fine Arts in 2D Studio Art with a minor in Art History form SHSU. Magda has a Bachelor in Computer Systems Engineering from ITESM in Monterrey, N.L, México. Her artwork explores the relationship between art, science, and identity. She enjoys experimenting with color theory using oil, acrylic, printmaking and techniques that involve a blend of bees’ wax, resin and pigments. Currently, Macías is exploring art-as-a practice, which it can take the form of activities as diverse as interaction of social relationships, data analysis, race equality and how the use of art as a tool to restoring and healing stress in humans.

Resume

EDUCATION

• Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX  May 2024 MFA in Art and Social Practices

• The Glassell School, MFAH, Houston, TX Fall 2020

• Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX  Dec 2019 BFA, 2 Dimensional Studio Art with a minor in Art History 

• Lone Star College Montgomery, The Woodlands, TX  May 2015 Associate of Arts

• Instituto Tecnológico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Mty, N.L, México May 1986 Bachelor of Science, Computer Systems Engineering

EXHIBITIONS

2025 The Colors of Art in Spring: Heights Art Studios & Gallery, Houston, TX

2025 A Tribute to Water: Instituto Cultural de Mexico, San Antonio, TX, Juried by Paola Nuñez Solorio

2024 The Illusion of Immigration: SHSU Art Gallery, Hoyt Fine Arts Building, Huntsville, TX

2023 My Heritage and Me: R.B. Tullis Montgomery County, New Caney, TX

2023 Belonging to a Community: Deerwood Community Center, Conroe, TX

2022 Artificial Intelligence Search Engines: SHSU Department of Art, Scholarship Spotlight, EXSpace 220, Dana G. Hoyt Art complex, Huntsville, TX

 2022 The Wish Tree: The Wynne Home Arts & Visitor Center, Huntsville, TX and Lobby of the Dana G. Hoyt Art complex, Huntsville, TX

 2022 Traveling Social Pharmacy in collaboration with Jody Wood, Huntsville Public Library, Newton Gresham Library, and The Wynne Home Arts & Visitor Center, TX                                                         

2021 Biophilia: Art that Heals, Lobby of the Dana G. Hoyt Art complex, Huntsville, TX

2021  Nice to Meet you Exhibition: Satellite Gallery, Huntsville, TX

2020 VAA 37th juried membership Exhibition, Juried by Shana Nys Dambrot

2019    FUSION:  Satellite Gallery, Huntsville, TX

2019    Senior Flash Back Exhibition: Satellite Gallery, Huntsville, TX

2019    Alternative Surfaces:   SHSU Art Complex, Huntsville, TX

2019    20th Annual Juried Student Exhibition: Gaddis Geeslin Gallery, Huntsville,TX Juried by Celia Alvarez Muñoz

2018    19th Annual Juried Student Exhibition: Gaddis Geeslin Gallery, Huntsville,TX Juried by Dennis Nance

2018    FERVENT: S.O.F.A. Gallery at SHSU, Huntsville, TX

2014    SWIRL: Lone Star College-Montgomery, The Woodlands, TX

COLLECTIONS

2018    SHSU in Huntsville, TX