Artist Statement
My art career started in the same place as most children– with crayons and finger paintings. My first works were displayed on the fridge by random magnets. From then on, my art consisted of school projects and my tools came from stores like Dollar Tree, Walmart, and Target. I have always created art; it is a coping mechanism, an extension of my thought process, and a form of non-verbal expression. As an extremely quiet and shy kid, art allowed me to communicate with others in a comfortable way. For a long time, I didn’t think art was a possible or reliable career for myself so I chose the next best option: doctor. I focused on taking STEM courses, specifically higher levels of math. But, a little ways into my high school career I realized I was not passionate about the route I was taking. A broken ankle and a Connecticut winter led me to apply to my school’s Visual Arts Concentration Program. Since then I have transitioned from painting on canvas to mixed-media art making.
Currently, I make linoleum prints, ceramic pieces, sketches, larger paintings, and works with random or found objects. Each of these mediums has a specific aspect that I find artistically liberating; for example, I enjoy the repetitiveness of printmaking and its subtitle unpredictability because each print is unique. Working with clay feels very grounding to nature and reminds me of playing with mud as a kid. I tend to work large due to the expansiveness of the surface area and its ability to immerse a viewer. Conversely, found objects tend to add a mundane touch to my pieces. My intention with this is to keep my work grounded, as my art is an extension of myself. What I struggle to portray in words and I can represent in art.
My work is not methodical whatsoever and neither is my creative process. Each piece requires different materials and energy. The subjects and meaning of my works present themselves to me as I create. Some pieces are heavily influenced by my current emotions, while others are inspired by various source imagery.
I like to be experimental with my art, and I am always willing to try new mediums. In my future work, I hope to weave more of my identity into my pieces. As someone who is Mexican, Black, and nonbinary, my identities are a central part of my everyday existence. Artists I am most moved by come from underrepresented communities and have their own unique mix of identities. I am inspired by street art, graffiti, Mexican folk art, surrealism, various music genres, and skate culture. Because art is an important part of the human experience, I aim to make my art accessible to a diverse array of people. I also hope to make work visually interesting to viewers where they enjoy and/or understand its message.