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Emma Hernández (she/her/ella) is a multi-media artist and illustrator whose work thrives at the intersection of visual narrative and physical expression. With a practice that spans fine-tuned illustration and live performance, she focuses on storytelling as an act of both connection and community building.
Her work is grounded in versatility, most recently highlighted by their collaboration with HarperCollins for the 2024 publication Liberating Abortion, where she provided the evocative chapter heading illustrations. This keen eye for visual storytelling translates seamlessly to the stage; Hernández creates and performs literary art for young audiences with Los Mentirosos for Tia Power Story Hour. In this collaborative space, she brings bilingual stories to life through movement and performance, making literature a visceral, multi-sensory experience for the next generation.
She has danced with Zombie Bazaar Panza Fusion and Los MENtirosos Drag King troupe since 2021, performing as part of City of San Antonio sponsored projects such as Kingceanera, Leyendas, and Drag King Bilingual Storytime.
Emma Hernández holds a Masters of Public Administration from the University of Texas at San Antonio and a BA in Communication Studies from Indiana University as a Sam Masarachia scholar — an innovative course of study focused on labor, older adult, and community activism. Emma has facilitated workshops and presented sessions such as ‘Using Zines to forge Community Connections’ (Texa ... view more »
Resume (PDF)
Work Samples (PDF)
MORE ABOUT THIS ARTIST
Artist Type: Media Arts: Filmmaker, Graphic Artist, Media/Visual Communications, New Media/Technology; Multi-Disciplinary: Multiple Art Forms; Performing Arts: Dancer, Performance Art, Storyteller; Visual Arts: Illustrator, Photographer
Artist Style: Dance: Contemporary, Modern; Teaching Artist/Instructor: Group Instruction, Instruction for Adults, Instruction for Children, Instruction for Seniors, Workshop Presenter; Theatre: Cabaret/Variety, Political; Tejano, Bellydance
Artist Medium: Drawing Media; Photography
Artist Statement of Work
Tell us about your work (style, approach, philosophy, subject and/or theme):
I am a multimedia artist, dancer, and storyteller inspired by community, cultural resilience, and movement as a form of healing and expression. My work blends illustration, dance, and performance to explore identity, joy, and collective memory within Latinx and Tejanx communities. As a dancer and backup performer for Los MENtirosos, San Antonio’s premiere Latinx Drag King troupe, and a member of Zombie Bazaar Panza Fusion, I’ve found home on stages that center gender-expansive artistry and cultural pride.
My illustration and performance work are deeply rooted in storytelling—honoring personal and communal histories while celebrating the complexities of our lived experiences. Whether creating zines, facilitating workshops, or performing in spaces where Tejanx music meets drag and movement, I aim to spark connection, joy, and conversation.
Grounded in my background as an activist and communications professional, I believe in the power of art as a tool for resistance, healing, and social change. Each project I take on is driven by the belief that our stories—especially those often left untold—are essential for imagining new futures.
