Gala Reneaum Tello

Gala Reneaum Tello is a multi-disciplinary artist from Mexico City who has made Fayetteville, Arkansas her second home since 2016. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts (2022) and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration (2019) from the University of Arkansas. With a passion for the business side of the arts, Reneaum has recently joined the MIXD staff as a Gallery Manager, where she continues to develop her management skillsets and make a positive impact on Northwest Arkansas through the arts.

Reneaum’s mixed-media works explore the intersection between her experiences as a Mexican woman living in the United States and her interest in elevating ordinary objects and scenarios. She incorporates elements of Mexican culture, mental health awareness, emotional psychology, and personal items into her practice to create works that are visually and conceptually engaging. By using everyday materials and found objects in her art, Reneaum creates layers of meaning. Repurposing objects that are no longer valuable in their original context imbues them with a new emotional significance, creating a different type of value. She often uses discarded paper, recycled cosmetic containers, and magazine pages in the creation of her works.

In addition to using found materials, Reneaum also intentionally purchases materials to highlight the intersection between past and present experiences. She emphasizes the theme of personal and quotidian objects in her works and reflects on what they reveal about their owners. Objects often hold stories about their past, and Reneaum’s Split Seconds series abstractly portrays mundane moments that are easily overlooked because they are not remarkable. However, we should be mindful of these “split seconds” that sum up our lives every day and eventually become stories or get resumed into objects. She invites viewers to become emotionally aware and consider their own experiences, their connection to their environment, and their comfort with their emotions. Her intention is to encourage reflection on how these experiences have shaped their lives.