I am a South Texas native whose love for art began as a child. Despite being complimented by instructors for my use of color in both painting and graphic design, I’ve struggled with the title of “artist” for a long time. My journey toward identifying as an artist was complicated by my unique upbringing; as the child of a disabled parent, I spent much of my youth caring for others. It wasn’t until my mother passed away in 2016 that I felt a renewed focus on myself and my passions, identity, and goals. Despite my lack of formal credentials or completed degrees, I’m dedicated to growing as an artist and finding my own path. I have a passion for bold colors and striking compositions inspired by my Latinx background. As I’ve begun to hone my skills and explore different mediums, I’ve realized that art is an essential part of who I am. I love experimenting with different color palettes, layering techniques, and textures to create visually stunning and emotionally evocative pieces. In 2019 I donated a piece of my work to a student art sale, where my photograph was sold within minutes, even before the other works were fully set up. This incident was a big validation of my unique vision and artistic ability.

In addition to visual art, I’ve been writing poetry since I was young and some of my work was published in high school newspapers. Later on, I discovered slam poetry at a local poetry event and have performed my own original pieces.  ... view more »

Artist Statement of Work

Tell us about your work (style, approach, philosophy, subject and/or theme):

Through my art, I explore combinations of mediums, paradoxes, and am heavily inspired by wildlife as I grew up in a part of Texas that is popular to avid birdwatchers. I strive to create pieces that evoke emotions and provoke thought or take viewers away from their emotions for a moment.

My use of bold, bright colors is inspired by my cultural background growing up in predominantly Latinx areas, as well as my own experiences.

With the grant I am applying for, I plan to create a series of 100 waterfalls in different mediums as a tribute to my grandmother. She has always been a significant influence in my life and my journey as an artist. By creating these artworks, I hope to show her that I am indeed an artist in my own right, and that I have found a way to use my talents to honor her. Through this project, I also hope to challenge myself by pushing my artistic boundaries and experimenting with different mediums.

Ultimately, my goal as an artist is to create work that is both beautiful and thought-provoking, that captures the complexities of the human experience and encourages viewers to see the world in a new light or see a new world completely when they need a break from this one.

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