Artist Statement

As a Mexican-American multidisciplinary artist, my practice is rooted in my bi-ethnic experience and expressed through traditional forms of art-making, such as painting and sculpture. Growing up in a household with two distinct identities–Mexican and White–has formed many bittersweet moments, from navigating impostor syndrome and a sense of belonging to an ongoing journey of self-discovery. My racial and ethnic identity is shaped through my relationships with family, friends, society, and myself.

My body of work explores the idea of “Nepantla”, a Nahuatl word that signifies the “in-between”. I use Nepantla to examine what it means to exist between cultures and the complexities that come with holding multiple identities. Rather than viewing this in-between space as something that needs to be resolved, I see it as a space of possibility, where the layers of my identity can coexist, overlap, and challenge one another.  I use materials that are both common and uncommon in traditional making to reflect my connection to, and disconnection from, certain cultural practices. My father works in construction, while my mother grew up drawing and painting; these materials allow me to reconnect with their histories while repairing what I have felt lost throughout my own. Through self-portraiture in painting and sculpture, I transform personal experiences, memories, and familial histories into physical forms.

My practice is an ongoing act of reconciliation and reclamation. I strive to provide the representation I have longed for—a story that is uniquely mine yet resonates with others navigating cultural duality and questions of belonging. As I continue to shape my practice, I aspire to foster bicultural confidence, envisioning my art as a tool for liberation and creating a space for others to embrace every part of who they are.