ABOUT
ABOUT THE ARTIST
ISABEL LEMUS GOYRE
Welcome to my online art gallery.
I am a cork artist born in Havana, Cuba and based currently in the lovely city of Temecula, in Southern California. Before moving to wine country as this city is known I have lived in Madrid, Spain, Phoenix, Arizona and San Diego, California.
Art has been calling my door since I was a child. Writing, dancing, acting and painting were some of the artistic expressions I tried in my early years.
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Writing won the prize and I went to study Literature and Linguistics at the University of Havana where I obtained my Bachelor's degree in 2001.
The curiosity of knowing beyond the boundaries of my native Caribbean island led me to experience life on the European continent and in 2007 I went to pursue a Master's degree in Marketing and Business Management in Madrid, Spain where I lived before moving to the United States. Even though I tried and pursued careers in non artistic sectors like business, I continued being an art enthusiast and enrolled in renowned courses like the Cultural Heritage Museum at the Museum of America in Madrid, a great opportunity to strengthen my knowledge about the different art styles of the American continent.
A JOURNEY OF TRANSFORMATION
In both countries, Cuba and Spain, I developed a career in education, teaching Languages and Literature until I moved to the United States in 2012. Through my restless mind and entrepreneurial spirit, I adventured to taste different venues in my new homeland: I launched an online tutoring business in my first years in America, interrupted after my first and only child was born in 2015.
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When a life-changing event knocked at my door in 2021, the passing of my mom, I resolved to pause what used to be my daily life routine and started my art creator journey. My first AphroVine was born in August 2022, even though the idea and vision of it lay on my mind for almost a year.
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I consider myself a self-taught cork artist, and also a citizen of the world, a spiritual and physical traveler. My biggest love is Havana, the city that hiddenly camps with me wherever I go. Its people, its music, its culture and the sweet memories of my childhood always accompany me. My new art journey, which I called the third emigration, is a reflection of it: I try to revive the sensuality and charisma of las habaneras wearing turbans, or the hairstyle of beloved friends whose creativity I constantly admire.
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I am a full-time dedicated mom of a beautiful and artistic 8 years old. I gladly combine this role with my art enterprise. Art has been my way of healing and discovering new potentialities in me.
ABOUT THE ART
Wine corks have always intrigued me. In my eyes, they resemble miniature trees full of power. I started creating with corks to provide a solution to an aesthetic problem I needed to resolve. My first AphroVine, as I called my three-dimensional women silhouettes, came to life in August 2022. The idea was to create a functional piece capable of working as a jewelry holder. In the process of materializing this dream, an artwork was born.
EMBRACING SUSTAINABLE ARTISTRY
TEMECULA CITY LIFESTYLE ARTICLE TEST
I have dedicated since then to recreating a special kind of beauty using recycled wine corks as the principal material. This creativity process also acted as a healing pill to my soul. My vision is focused on presenting the versatility of an enigmatic component like cork while highlighting specifically the beauty of black women.
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Each AphroVine’s design varies as an attempt to capture diverse forms and occurrences of hairstyles. Corks with their different tones, textures, and shapes are a perfect ally to achieve this purpose. I mainly preserve the cork as it is, not paint added. The different levels of stains the corks bring are enough to provide some color and contrast to my work. When I want to create a colorful piece, I add sequins, an unusual material related to corks. The result is amazing.
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I am proud of myself for contributing to the sustainability movement and creating functional pieces like cork mirrors or jewelry holders. Each of my pieces acts as memorabilia of the prestigious local wineries of Temecula Wine Country. If you have ever visited them you will carry memories with you in the shape of art.
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Each of my art pieces is different since there are not two similar corks.
In this new era of sustainability, my upcycled figurative art aims to offer black art lovers an unusual style of black art and invite them to participate in the reuse, recycle, and repurpose movement. Boho designers are also invited to incorporate my unique and exclusive pieces into their earthy decor.
TESTIMONIALS
Erica Harris, CO
"I fell in love with Isabel's art as soon as I saw it. My two pieces, the cork jewelry holder and Spring have brought a lot of great comments from friends and relatives."
Samson, CA
"The cork mirror was a present for my wife. She was amazed of how original and unique her it is"
Michelle Wells, CA
“I got a couple of pieces for my daughter who recently discovered she is of African descendant and she loves them!.”