ARTIST STATEMENT

My work explores the intersections of identity, memory, and cultural inheritance through painting and mixed-media processes. Drawing on my Guatemalan and Cuban heritage, I use symbolism, portraiture, and material experimentation to explore how personal histories are shaped by broader social and political forces. Through my practice, I seek to understand the ways traditions, migration, and community inform our sense of self and belonging.

Working primarily in oil and acrylic paint, I build layered surfaces that mirror the complexity of memory. I am interested in the traces left behind by people, places, and histories, often incorporating imagery rooted in family narratives and everyday experiences. My representational paintings allow figures, objects, and symbols to move between personal storytelling and broader cultural reflection.

Recently, I have been exploring the concept of family structure and how specific upbringings shape who they are today. I investigate how generational trauma and external influences can shape a person's mindset and behaviors. The themes serve as a point of entry into discussions surrounding colonialism and imperialism in Latin America, particularly in Guatemala, while also honoring the resilience of communities that continue to adapt and preserve cultural traditions.

Through painting, I am interested in creating spaces for reflection and dialogue. My work invites viewers to consider how history is carried through
generations, how cultural traditions evolve over time, and how personal and collective identities are continually shaped by the stories we inherit and the ones we choose to tell.