ARTIST IN FOCUS:
Marta Contreras Simó

Marta, your work uniquely combines various disciplines to transcend traditional photography and digital art. Can you tell us more about your journey as an artist and what initially attracted you to explore artificial intelligence as an artistic medium?

I have always been connected to the world of fashion. My parents are designers, and my siblings work in the field of interior design. I studied International Trade at university and took several courses at the London College of Fashion in London, where my adventure in the world of fashion began. Although I worked as a Retail Manager, I was never a designer. After having my son Tommy, it became difficult to balance motherhood with retail, so I started photographing, another hobby of mine since childhood. I specialized in Street Style and Architecture, and several of my photos were published in magazines like Vogue, etc. I never dared to photograph people, and that’s how my exploration in AI began. It gave me the freedom to create what I had in mind.

Your art fluidly blends technology and imagination to create a fantasy world. How do you incorporate AI into your creative process, and what are some of the unique challenges and opportunities it presents?

I work in two ways: in one, I use one of my real photographs as a base and let my imagination run wild. I like the aesthetic but always pay attention to the smallest detail. The opportunities AI provides are endless, but we must also remember that behind the tool, there must be a creative mind.

You blend traditional elements with a modern aesthetic in your work. Can you elaborate on how you balance these aspects and your creative process when developing a new piece?

From a very young age, I would sit on a bench to observe people, how they dressed, how they moved... I’ve always loved observing and analyzing. I’m very shy; in a conversation, I prefer listening to talking, and while I listen, I observe and analyze every detail of the person or people in front of me. This is my way of learning, and in this learning, the mix of traditional and aesthetic elements comes into play, fusing fashion with our past roots, which are the foundation of design, artistry, and craftsmanship with a touch of modernity.

Your works stand out for their meticulous detail, especially in elements like the porcelain skin of your figures. Could you explain how you achieve such precision and the importance of these details in your overall composition?

I’m a perfectionist par excellence. Some friends sometimes tell me I have OCD, and they’re right. I prefer not to do something rather than do it poorly. So all my images have an extreme point of perfection, which doesn’t have to be related to perfect women but to perfectly real women, beautiful as they are and strong. In that strength, I seek for them to feel secure just as they are and how they dress... and why not, women who, if we saw them in real life, we would turn around to look at them twice. With great personality.

Your art explores the connection between beauty and individuality across time and cultures. What themes or messages are you most passionate about conveying through your work?

I’m passionate about creating images of women from different countries. I imagine them in their towns or cities dressed in a special way and with their magnificent hats, regardless of what people think. They are free and confident in themselves.

Fashion plays a significant role in your art, transforming it into an artistic manifestation of individuality. How does fashion influence your work, and what do you seek to express through this medium?

Fashion is part of my life. I am surrounded by it. I may like it more or less, but that’s a more personal matter. Fashion is art, and with my work, I would like to show a new artistic concept with much room for exploration and work, always faithful to my style, even if sometimes criticized, it is my own.

Who are some of your biggest influences in the world of art, fashion, and digital media? How have they shaped your vision and approach to creating art?

I am a fan of photographers like Roversi, Elizaveta Porodina, or Zhong Lin, who reflect beauty in a different and aesthetic way. As for designers, I am a huge fan of Jacquemus; he is a pure example that sometimes one can achieve whatever they want with effort and dedication. In the art world, my tastes range from Gauguin to Picasso, passing through my beloved Gaudí.

As an artist who successfully combines traditional techniques with cutting-edge technology, what advice would you give to aspiring artists looking to push the boundaries of their own creativity?

First of all, thank you for considering me an artist; I appreciate it. I’m not the best person to give advice, but I would tell them to be free and creative and not to copy the style of others. Be faithful to their instincts and maintain that, which I think is the most challenging thing in the end, to be oneself. And to try image creation tools, they will surely give them many moments of happiness.