About Me
Monique Motil: Has been living and working in San Francisco for more than 25 years as a freelance artist, costumer, an entrepreneur.
She received her B.A. in Metal Arts/ Sculpture from SFSU. She is best known for her small figurative pieces using animal parts and dressing them in elaborate historical costumes.
These pieces have inspired characters in Christopher Moore’s novel, A Dirty Job and the sequel, Second Hand Souls. Recently even capturing the attention of Jerry Seinfield on his show, Comediennes in cars with coffee.
This was only a glimpse of Monique’s craft, imaging and creating new art is a constant state in her mind and the work never stops.
About Assemblage
I build each piece with the the collections of cast off items I find. Scraps of beautiful fabrics and trims, ratty lace and appliqués, broken jewelry, bones, pen nibs and dull blades, feathers, thrift store frames, and just about anything that I find in multiples.
With a bit magic these cast off, mundane items are given new life in a mandala or as part of a reliquary. I receive a great amount of pleasure to bringing a sense of order to a pile of mis-matched items.
About Boxes
Each box possesses a unique visual magic and is filled with personal symbolism on a small intimate scale.
About Creatures
Each animal skull inspires a separate character and period of fashion. I view every creature as a collage since I use pieces of my lifelong collections of strange pods and sparkly bits, fabric scraps, body parts, beads and bones to construct the sculptures. I am very inspired by the colors and texture of the natural world. I respectfully build each piece with the spirit of the animals involved.
I find the small detail work both relaxing and satisfying.
I began creating dolls as a very small child, with some of my earliest works consisting of golf balls, spools of thread and nylon stockings.
An ever evolving sculptor, my portfolio includes metal work, monster creation, costume design, detritus and found object compilation, collage, film, puppetry and zombie reanimation.
About heart shaped boxes
The day after Valentine’s Day is the best time of year for Monique. Mainly because all the heart shaped candy boxes have been slashed in price and are practically given away.
This vessel of sweet treats is tarnished with a reputation for being tacky and lame. A simple misconception, one that Monique does not share for she sees more than just candy in a simple box but rather a whole new reality.