A LITTLE BIT ABOUT ME

My name is Mercè Alegre Bastida and I am a Barcelona-based artist & art therapist.

I have studied illustration with Ignasi Blanch (Escola de la dona, Francesca Bonnemaison), silkscreen print with Sergio Rocha (Pati Llimona), drawing with Renate Wolf and Roland Satlow (Trier Universität), painting with Nati Crespo (Centre Mas Lluí) and ceramics with Susana Fortuny (Fortuny Pottery).

My art works have been displayed mostly in Barcelona, including several times at La Barraca and in other cultural centers of the city. Also, some of my writings have been published: After the fire (2012), co-created and self-published with photographer Noelia Pérez Sández, Shaking Leaves (2023), published online by Cordella Press, and Praying for the white jasmine to come back (2023), published by Libélula Verde.

“Art is pointless without passion. You have to get out and create art. Get an actual job by doing what you love and make a living by being yourself. You can’t just let other people define the rest of your life and say you will be a joke, a failure. Follow your heart. You will end up happy and free, not a starving artist. Love your art and contribute to society by inspiring people instead of wasting time letting others tell you you’re worthless. You can change the world.”

Jasmine Kay Uy, artist

Oaxaca, México, 2014.

These pictures are from long time ago. But when I look at them I see the glowing smile art brings to my life and it helps me remember why I’ve chosen to follow this creative path.

MY ART CORNER

To be honest, before taking the picture, it looked very messy… Hot tea and music are part of my team, along with brushes, jars filled with water and dirty rags. By the way, the feathered fellow in the painting reminds me to tell you that I am not an early bird, but more of a a late night owl type of person instead.

Many things made this art corner possible. Not only my teachers and the schools I attended, but also my family and friends. They are part of the art process too, since they have always supported me and my creative path.

Art isn’t something elaborated in the void. We need to sleep, to eat and fold the laundry (not really my favourite task). I am grateful for having the possibility to do one of the things I love the most in the world, playing with colors and lines, hoping that you will enjoy their flavour at home.