Tears and Terroir A Modern Wine Inspired Composition featuread at Tasteful Art Exhibition in New York • WineDivaa

Tears and Terroir (Lágrimas y Suelo) A Modern Wine Inspired Composition featuread at Tasteful Art Exhibition in New York. Huntington, New York – May 1st, 2026 By Martha Cisneros Paja

The Intersection of Love and Logic

The transition from being an observer of art to a creator is a journey of defining one’s own root, soil or what in wine we call “terroir.” As I explored in my recent biographical essay, my creative identity was forged in the readings of the gardens of Giverny and the structured streets of Barcelona. However, it was not until I began to merge my professional career in Engineering and Technology with my expertise as a Sommelier that my true artistic voice emerged.

Today, I am proud to unveil my composition, “Tears and Terroir” (Lágrimas y Suelo), which has been selected for a premier food and wine inspired art exhibition in Huntington, New York titled “Tasteful: A Celebration of Food Culture and Creativity.” This exhibition is hosted by the Huntington Arts Council and runs from May 7th to June 8th. Furthermore, it marks the public debut of WineDivaa Art. This project has been my best-kept secret and my most profound artistic and technical challenge to date.

Defining the Elements: The Artist’s Statement

In my practice, I operate as a “Technical Creative.” My work is a visual synthesis of two seemingly disparate worlds: the fluid, organic evolution of wine and the rigid, disciplined structures of engineering. In Tears and Terroir (Lágrimas y Suelo), the composition is built upon three core pillars that define my contribution to this wine inspired art exhibition in New York: Strategy, Repetition, and Flow.

• The “Tears” (Lágrimas ): In oenology, “tears” refer to the droplets that crawl down the side of a glass, a manifestation of the Marangoni Effect. In my art, these are represented by verticality and fluid dynamics. I use these lines to map the movement of energy. My interest lies in how fluid interacts with the boundary of the glass, much like how a system interacts with its constraints in an Agile framework.
• The “Suelo” (The Soil): This represents the foundation of terroir. I utilize mixed media and textured layers to mimic the geological strata of the earth. In my engineering life, I build systems from the ground up. On the canvas, I build the “suelo” to provide the structural integrity required for the more fluid elements to exist.
• The Geometric Strategy: Unlike traditional abstract art, my work utilizes geometric repetition. This is a direct nod to my engineering background—using patterns to create a sense of predictability and rhythm within the natural “chaos” of the wine’s pour.

The Grounding of “Suelo”: Terroir as a Foundation

My obsession with terroir is not merely professional; it is visceral. Growing up between Texas and Monterrey and later living in the artistic epicenter of Catalonia, I learned that the earth dictates the art. In viticulture, the soil is the silent architect of flavor. In my art, it is the texture that provides depth.

During my time in Barcelona, I was deeply moved by how Catalan artists like Joan Miró used primal, earthy shapes to ground their surrealist visions. In Tears and Terroir (Lágrimas y Suelo), I utilize this “suelo” to represent my own grounding as a professional. Even while my mind is exploring the surrealist depths inspired by Salvador Dalí, my feet are firmly planted in the discipline of my engineering career. Moreover, I used repetition in my textures to mimic the layers of the earth. Thus, I show that every masterpiece—and every vintage—is built layer by technical layer over time.

The Dalí Catalyst: A Vision in St. Petersburg

The final piece of the puzzle fell into place this past December at the Dalí Museum in Saint Petersburg. Witnessing the exhibition dedicated to the wine-inspired works of Dalí and Gala was a revelation of Expertise. I saw a master who didn’t just paint wine; he engineered a new way to perceive it. He categorized wine through aesthetic and emotional lenses: Wines of Joy, Wines of the Impossible.

This experience gave me the “technical permission” to stop hiding my engineering side and my artistic side from one another. Furthermore, I realized that my audience doesn’t just want to see a painting; they want to see the “why.” They want to see the strategy. Being part of this wine inspired art exhibition in New York is significant because it places my technical, wine-centric art in the middle of a cultural celebration. In this setting, food, drink, and creativity are seen as one single, cohesive system.

A Legacy of Infinite Learning

Art, like a well-managed Agile project or a perfectly aged vintage, is about the refinement of a process. My journey from the coloring books of my childhood to the galleries of Long Island is a testament to the fact that we are never just one thing. I am an engineer, an Agile lead, a writer, an author, a sommelier, and now, the artist behind WineDivaa Art. I invite you to visit the Huntington Arts Council from May 7th to June 8th to see the debut of this work. Experience the repetition, the strategy, and the “tears” that have brought this composition to life.

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