Miami Beach, FL – April 7, 2015 – What do you get when one of South Beach’s hottest restaurants teams up with a well-known local artist? One epic collaboration. sbe’s Katsuya South Beach at the SLS Hotel hosted locally celebrated painter Tatiana Suarez as she showcased her recent artistic contribution to the intimate Dragon Lounge. Following a previous installation by Jona Cerwinske, the restaurant continues to lend its support and walls to the local arts community with the latest collaboration. At the exclusive unveiling, guests mixed and mingled with the artist while enjoying some of Katsuya’s bite-sized delicacies along with sbe’s signature cocktails. A fusion of art and hospitality, Tatiana brings a Japanese-inspired sea of beauty in her unique style to the walls of the hip hideaway.

World Red Eye spent some time chatting with Suarez where she discussed with us her inspiration for Katsuya’s latest decor, as well as her career as an artist here in Miami.

WRE: Have you always known you wanted to be an artist, or is this something that just developed naturally?

TS: I knew at an early age that I wanted to be an artist. It was either art or something involving animals. My dad played a big part in all of this; he used to paint and draw when I was growing up but never had a chance to pursue a career in it. I’m so grateful for the support and love, glad to be making my poppa proud.

WRE: Tell us about the work you created throughout SLS’s Dragon Lounge? What inspired the design?

TS: Katsuya is a Japanese restaurant, so naturally I wanted to keep the theme Japanese. There are four ladies represented as geishas, adorned with traditional patterns and flora. I kept the colors minimal, incorporating the subtle reds and pinks in geisha make-up. Because it was the Dragon Lounge, I included a dragon weaving in and out of the room, wrapping around columns and sprinkled with cherry blossoms.

WRE: Doe-eyed figures seem to be a theme throughout your work, what does this represent to you?

TS: Women are the protagonists in my work. I’ve been painting them with stylized eyes since I can remember. As a kid I was heavily influenced by Disney animations, particularly the princesses, as well as Tim Burton’s style. I’d draw and sketch until I finally developed my own aesthetic witch ended up being these trademark eyes. With every piece, I see myself maturing. The eyes are definitely still stylized, but are becoming a bit more realistic and proportionate to the face.

WRE: You also tend to incorporate nature/animals into your work, can you tell us a bit more about this?

TS: My work’s heavily influenced by nature. My figures are always adorned by some sort of flora or fauna. I’ve always liked the juxtaposition of the delicate and beautiful, paired with the creepy and grotesque. Living in Miami is wonderful because you’re surrounded by lush plant life and all sorts of tropical goodies. If I’m ever feeling stuck, walking around and observing textures, colors, shapes, and patterns in nature always spark ideas.

WRE: Does your approach differ when you go to create a painting versus a mural? Do you sketch out your ideas first or does it just develop as you go?

TS: My process varies from project to project. Both involve doing research on photos and other inspiring subjects. For my studio paintings, the process is usually more organic. I get impatient with my sketches and usually dive right into the piece. With murals, I work on my sketches digitally. I plan out my color palettes and grid everything out. Because of the permanence and scale of murals, there’s less room for error. Time is definitely a factor, so having a plan makes the process simpler.

WRE: How has your Miami-native roots influenced your work?

TS: I realized how much my Miami roots influenced my work while I was living in New York. I was feeling very nostalgic of home, especially during the winter months. I missed all the colors that can be found in the magic city – especially the sky. As I mentioned earlier, being surrounded by nature, wild-life, tropical climate, and cultural diversity inspires me – my Miami upbringing and my cultural background definitely have narratives in my work.

WRE: Tell us about how you’ve seen Miami’s street art scene evolve throughout the years?

TS: Painting in Wynwood back in 2009 with Primary Flight was life-changing for me. Back then I had minimal knowledge regarding the street art / graffiti scene. I was living in New York at the time and would only paint here during Art Basel. It was insane to see how much the neighborhood would transform with each passing year. I’m not sure if there’s anywhere else in the world with such a concentrated range of street art. I’d love to start seeing more curated and planned out murals start trickling out to other neighborhoods.

WRE: What can we expect in the future in regards to your work?

TS: In regards to my murals – I’m hoping to travel and paint as much as I can. I want to go bigger and louder!  In regards to my paintings – I’d love to slow down a bit and spend more time conceptualizing and experimenting on some new bodies of work.

Tatiana Suarez

I’ve always liked the juxtaposition of the delicate and beautiful, paired with the creepy and grotesque.

Tatiana Suarez

David Iglesias & Tatiana Suarez

Carla McCarthy & Tatiana Suarez

Mayra Magana & Jorge Rios

Victor Vazquez & Michelle Vazquez

Quake & Brian Butler

John Gregory & Melanie Gapany

Momo Mabrouk & Andres Mazo