ARTIST STATEMENT

My work centers on Indigenous women of Latin America, exploring themes of detribalization, empowerment, and transcendence. Rooted in the question, “Who am I beyond my body or past?”, my practice reflects a process of deconstructing self-worth, confronting generational trauma, and healing through expression. As the daughter of immigrant parents from Ipiales, Colombia, my identity is deeply shaped by my first-generation experience and Andean heritage. The erasure of Indigenous cultures through colonization led to their systemic marginalization. In response, I collaborate with women from my family and inner circle—who serve as models in my paintings—to reclaim visibility and voice.

Blending oil painting and airbrush techniques, I explore their duality—airbrush, a medium I learned in my inner-city community to create memorial portraits, and oil painting, which roots my work in classical tradition and connects to the cultural indoctrination of Catholicism. Together, these mediums form the foundation of what I call 'Indigenous Surrealism,' a visual language that conjures ethereal, dreamlike worlds and challenges the boundaries between tradition and innovation.

My current portraits are manifestations of the regal figures I longed to see growing up—counterimages to the reality I experienced within my family who repressed our Indigenous identity in order to assimilate. I often felt invisible, yearning to see my full self reflected in the world. In response, I draw inspiration from Andean artifacts and design headdresses adorned with 24k gold leaf and emeralds native to Colombia. My father, an ornate wood carver, has influenced my aesthetic. By incorporating motifs and fragments of family heirlooms, I honor our lineage and celebrate the beauty encoded in our DNA. My art is bold, unapologetic, and actively reclaims space.

Raised in a Latin household, my use of Catholic iconography confronts the impositions of religious dogma. In my practice, I receive these images from my subconscious through meditation, during which I transform the sacred and surreal into a space of personal sanctuary. These reimagined symbols serve as tools for cultural reclamation and allow me to emphasize the importance of symmetrical patterns over the physical body. These motifs are not merely decorative; they serve as metaphors for the human soul. They symbolize the unique perfection of each individual, offering a universal language and spiritual freedom beyond identity. Ultimately, my work is about healing and a transformative journey of self-discovery.