ARTIST STATEMENT

My art centers on Indigenous women of Latin America, exploring themes of detribalization, empowerment, and transcendence. Reflecting on the question, “Who am I beyond my body or past?”, I had to deconstruct my sense of self-worth, confront trauma, and begin the process of healing through expression. As the daughter of immigrant parents from Ipiales, Colombia, my identity is shaped by my first-generation experiences and Andean heritage. Colonization’s erasure of Indigenous cultures led to their marginalization. In response to this history, I collaborate with the women in my family and inner circle, who serve as models in my paintings. 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. I push the capabilities of both materials to create realistic portrayals and ethereal worlds.

My current portraits are a visual manifestation of the regal figures I longed to see, counteracting my experience with my mother. She is a strong yet humble woman who has carried shame in being Indigenous. I often felt invisible and yearned to see all of who I am reflected in the world around me. This drove me to seek emblems of power, inspired by Andean artifacts. I designed headdresses using 24k gold leaf and emeralds native to Colombia. My father, an ornate wood carver, has left an indelible mark despite my struggles with his mental illness. By incorporating Andean designs and fragments of family heirlooms into my work, I create a new visual narrative that celebrates the aesthetic woven into the legacy of our DNA. My art is bold, unapologetic, and 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.