Cici McMonigle
Cici McMonigle (b.Tianjin, China) is a painter who works with mixed media. She began her studies at Parsons School of Design for Fine Arts and later attended Polk State College for psychology. Cici works to integrate psychology into her artwork, using it to delve into the intricacies of the subconscious within the realm of creation. This exploration extends to applying her insights to illuminate her experience as someone with a multicultural background— both half-Chinese and half-American. Cici McMonigle studied fine art at Parsons School of Art and Design, New York, and psychology at Polk State College, Winter Haven, Florida. Solo exhibition: (Forthcoming) Creatures For The Divine, NSU Art Museum, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, 2024. Wild West Circus, Mulberry Cultural Center, Mulberry, Florida. Group exhibitions include Florida Room 3: Snowbirds, KDR, Miami, 2024; Seeing is Believing, Mulberry Cultural Center, Mulberry, Florida, 2024; But Naked: A Collection of Soul Bearing Work, Polk Museum of Art, 2018, among others. Studio Residencies: Bakehouse Art Complex, Miami, 2024; Laundromat Art Space, Miami, 2023.
Collect Bean: What is the kindest thing someone can tell you about your artwork?
Cici McMonigle: The kindest thing someone can tell me about my artwork is that they think it's fun and that it brings them joy. I enjoy what I do, and I want that to translate to my audience.
Collect Bean: How do you incorporate feedback or criticism into your artistic process?
Cici McMonigle: I love incorporating feedback and criticism into my newer works, even if it doesn’t feel like something I would agree with. Experimenting can always help grow your artistic practice. Even if it's something I wouldn’t usually do, I always learn something new from working with criticism.
Collect Bean: How does where you grew up influence your work?
Cici McMonigle: Growing up in China plays a huge role in inspiring my work. My mixed identity is a foundation of my paintings, and though my work is not about retelling stories, I draw inspiration from Chinese and American symbolism, fables, and tales.
