Ivory Medina

Ivory Nita Medina was born in Albany, Georgia but has lived or worked both domestically and internationally. 

Ivory’s travels, multicultural experiences and friendships have all become a part of the expression of her art.  She loves all things colorful and non-traditional which has led to the development of a style she calls “Integrati0nism”.  This style marries strong color and color theories related to that of the Dutch painters, as well as an incorporation of cross-cultural symbolic meanings. 

Ivory works with multiple color theories in order to express light and mood by using a complex series of acrylic, fluid acrylic and watercolor paints/colors to formulate the final hue from a build-up of layers to create the final color.

 Secondly, her plein air style for landscapes, from natural scenes and photographs some as old as 20 years is accomplished with the same color theory but with much larger brushes and a layering of  the paint "lean to fat" in about 7 layers, leading to a freer but darker expression.

Focusing on landscapes in previous works Ivory now has incorporated figurative works into her portfolio to define and express “space and simple iconic presences” from a contemporary perspective. 

When asked about her work Ivory responds, “ In my work I attempt to capture the connection between what I see and what I feel, drawing color into my emotion from exaggerated darkness representing a truly understood piece by my head to light expression representing an emotionally understood piece by my heart.”

Ivory has been painting for more than 30 years is married to John Medina for 26 years, has 2 children, 2 grandchildren, 2 dogs and a cat.  The cat Fancy is Ivory’s primary critic “meowing and assisting” with pieces by constantly getting in her paints.   

Ivory completed her post graduate studies from Michigan State University and BS from University of Maryland.  She currently exhibits her current portfolio “Figuratively Speaking” here at Green Rice Gallery.