Midtown Global Market is excited to announce artist Naomi Tiry Salgado as the first artist of the new year to participate in the Artist in Residency program beginning January 3, 2025, through February 28, 2025.

Throughout the year, the Midtown Global Market will welcome six different local artists, each for a two-month residency. At the Market, they can create and display their work within the vibrant and culturally rich environment. Each artist will also host a free, public workshop.

This program is supported by the City of Minneapolis Cultural District Arts Fund and is designed to enhance community engagement through the arts, promote cultural diversity, and contribute to the economic vitality of the area.

The goals of Midtown Global Market’s Artist in Residency program:

To provide artists with space and resources to develop their work.
To foster cultural exchange and engagement between artists and the Midtown community.
To inspire community participation in art through workshops and interactive events.

Naomi Tiry Salgado specializes in oil painting via “Paint en Plein Air” or painting on location. She will host a free artist workshop at Midtown Global Market on Saturday, Feb. 22 from 2 – 4 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

Naomi Tiry Salgado - Artist Statement

I’m in love with the rush of painting en plein air. There’s something magical about being on location, where the landscape, light, and energy all collide. The sensory overload of nature—the wind tugging at my hat, the sun on my arms, the hum of insects, and the passersby—transforms the act of painting into an adventure. It’s a race against time, trying to capture the light and mood of the scene before it shifts. I dedicate my summers to this fast-paced, thrilling practice, where every brushstroke is infused with the excitement of the outdoors.

As the seasons shift, so does my work. When the weather turns cold, I often retreat to the studio, where I continue my journey of experimentation. I view my studio practice as a fusion of science and art, an ongoing investigation into the natural world. I’m endlessly fascinated by the intricacies and factoids of physics, chemistry, biology, and psychology. I explore these phenomena in my work, using my canvases as a laboratory to test ideas and push boundaries.

One concept that caught my attention last winter was Gamut Masking, a technique of painting with a restricted color palette to create mood and color harmony within the painting. This experimentation didn’t stay in the studio—it bled into my plein air practice as well, and many of the pieces I created this summer were painted with just three carefully chosen colors plus white.

I love the freedom and surprise that come with experimenting—whether it’s composing with the Golden Ratio, treating oil paint like watercolor, or using underpainting to solve visual problems. Each new concept I explore reshapes my work, yet, interestingly, I hear from collectors and colleagues alike that they still recognize my artistic voice in the final piece. There’s a consistent thread throughout my work, even as it continues to evolve.

Every year brings new discoveries, new techniques, and new insights. And every painting is an experiment. I invite you to join me on this journey of exploration where science, nature, and art intersect.

Website: tirysalgado.com

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