Artist Statement:

My practice is rooted in highlighting the shared and lived experiences of being Mexican-American, and reconciling how I view my identity with the identity cast upon me by society. Growing up in the predominantly Latinx city of Los Angeles, my body and my culture were simultaneously capitalized on, and ostracized by, white institutions and structures of power - in particular, my Mexican identity was often misrepresented by the media and the people around me despite the large Latinx presence in California. Pertinent to the current political landscape of the United States, my works draw inspiration from the ignorance, and the white gaze, that only sees the most superficial layers of my Mexican identity. I reference images of my family, friends, and the larger community to narrate scenes often not seen, and in the process, investigate larger themes surrounding the implicit biases and stereotyping that is embedded in the representation of Latinx communities in White America. Through the use of handcrafted wooden panels and canvases, I reference the long history of labor and struggle Mexican-American communities endure to help build, support, and operate the United States. Ultimately, my work is a platform for visibility of the Latinx communities that are too often hidden between the margins of America.