ARTIST STATEMENT

In my work, I explore womanhood and its spiritual and emotional connection to nature through mixed media drawing, painting, printmaking and ceramics.

Delving into themes of ancestry, motherhood, sisterhood, and sexuality, my personal journey as a woman informs my work, and reciprocally, my work is a way to better understand my personal journey as a woman. Nature comes as a resonating character, amplifying and reflecting my states of being.

My new series, Las Lloronas, was born during my residency at Peters Valley School of Craft in October 2023, while I was experiencing the loss of my last grandparent. I found in the nature that surrounded me a comfort, and a ground to explore my roots. This series features ethereal self-portraits, embroidered roots that grow, cry, intertwine, and weave into each other.

Questions such as— in what ways do the origins of my ancestors influence my sense of identity? How does exploring my ancestry deepen my understanding of myself? Where am I planting new roots, and how will I navigate this uncertain territory? As an an expatriate, these questions have been even more compelling to me and continue to guide my work.

I named this series after La llorona, goddess of death and rebirth, whose legend states she was a mother looking for her lost children. In my quest for anchorage, the story of this woman  resonated with me on a profound and intimate level. In my series, Las Lloronas represents the ancestors, the muses, the wise women, the protective souls of one’s family line. Tied to each other, these figures embody a supportive network of roots in which we can grow new ones.

I approach my practice organically, driven by the process and the exploration of combined techniques. For this series, I engage with printmaking with fabric, monotype technique, ceramics, and embroidery on paper.  The act of piercing, separating the strands, and stitching the paper come as a healing ritual for me.

With Las Lloronas, I intend to further understand my place in the lineage of women across the ages, connecting to personal narratives and universal archetypes.