ARTIST STATEMENT 

My work is all about New York, music, memory, despair, the impossibility of wishes, loss, finding hope and the self through a perceived sense of belonging, and going down into the depths of despair to save oneself.  Surviving sink or swim situations, imperfectly, yet with a vision to find within that which cannot be found without.
In my case, art has been the saving vessel, art and the self love life has instilled in me.

I create my abstract work in painting at locations I love and where I feel I belong, where my surroundings integrate with my idea of where I want to be.

My artistic journey is all about ‘improvising’, and imperfection.

It has been about overcoming multiple obstacles along my path which life  has thrown my way, and making the best out of all of those situations, making them work for me in some positive way, improvising, imperfectly.

I’ve been able to shape my journey to do what I love, which has become my way of life, because to me my work in art is my way of life.  Art is me and I am her.

I feel that I have found myself, through art and the self loyalty I've built for myself. I am truly happy and in my own skin.
I’ve built my way back to New York. It just feels right.
New York is the only home I choose for me.

For some years, life’s turns had me living in the middle of nowhere, in a place where I felt and was lost, where my rights were trampled over, my identity was questioned and my life threatened.

Despair filled my being, my daily life took place in a place of darkness and aloneness.  
But in that aloneness and darkness, I found me.  
I built a way out of all that.  
In some respects, I am still working toward a path out of that dark place.  
That dark place had all to do with bad decisions, poverty, and a lack of love and support, and it literally materialized into more poverty, and enduring trying conditions.

In the vast perception of lack, there were strong values that I found, incredible inner strength, myself and art. They are my gifts.

That inner strength led me to find my way back to New York, none other than to make art.

New York was and is the  place where I’d feel safe and welcomed.
Despair was silenced.  Darkness was lit.  New possibilities emerged.
I no longer felt in a state of standstill and fear, or unwelcomed.

I believe that I thrive when I paint in public, there is an undeniable benefit and source of inspiration as my work and I become a part of the ‘here & now’ of this vibrant city. 

I often have no idea of how a blank canvas will turn out, no plans, I turn on my music and I find inspiration being in the moment, there is no other experience that compares to painting in this city.  

My work seeks to ask the viewer: ‘what is it that you desire? Where is it that you’d wish you could be? Where are you the happiest? What are you doing or where are you when you are your most authentic self? Who would you so dearly wish that would appear in front of you? What dreams do you have? What keeps you moving forward? 

Through my paintings I hope the viewer will engage in a conversation that could also relate to their own personal story, their own memories, their own personal questions, hopes, moments of darkness, and of hope either lost or found. I hope it will ignite hope and strength, a vision to live their own lives to the fullest.

I’ve discovered that my work both in ceramics and in painting, is grounded in celebrating imperfections. It is what I love the most about making art.

Within those imperfect qualities,  lies an imprint of my soul as well as my physicality and experiences.

My work is all about my path which has been very imperfect, making my work a very personal matter: by allowing it to show a glimpse of who I am, of where I've been, and where I want to go, of what I see happening, and telling the story of a resilient path.  

My pieces become a testimony of how I speak up about what happens to me and around me. How often life or those with a little power want to sink us, yet we’re driven to swim and overcome.

 
The imperfection of my work has become my signature, something I don’t wish to change, something I allow to just be what it is meant to be and to mean what it is meant to mean.

I love how the concepts naturally  flow from my soul and hands into the medium, to make a uniquely imperfect creation.

My ceramic work is evolving, it took off exploring despair, darkness, human vulnerability, injustice, loss and the experience of death.
Death can be physical, as well as emotional.
My work also suggests hope, or the loss of it.

The sculptures I make in clay are also informed by the events that we see happening around us, to different groups of human beings, right here or on the other side of the world.

Through my work I intend to remind us all that we can't separate what we see happening to others from our work, we must speak about these issues, bring them to the surface, and create a collective conscience about them and to move forward toward a better path through art.

My sculptures in ceramics ask the viewer to reconsider what another human being may be experiencing, how they are being subjected to injustice, suffering, impossibilities, the impossibility of feeling hope, or facing death.

Until very recently, I’ve had battles that I alone have fought, and in the process the inner strength I’ve gained is invaluable.

My work intends to speak about the hope that is found in those dark places, in the ‘aloneness’ or ‘unfairness’ if we continue to work on ourselves and don’t give up.

The idea of the fly emerged from my experiences. This same concept can be applied to bring the suffering and injustices other human beings are experiencing into the visual realm.

The fact that I am here thriving, making art, that I have been working to put myself through art school while being my best advocate in life, is nothing short of a miracle.

I am forever grateful to those who believed and continue to believe in me, who open doors for me, who have showed up for me.

This is my story, the story that inspired me to make art and try to change my life, improvising, imperfectly, yet still here.

Thank you for reading.

ARTIST MANIFESTO

The best revenge is great success.

Working on myself is my priority.
Work to become the best version of you.
Speak up whenever needed.
Be silent whenever needed.
Music is my thing don’t be surprised to find me dancing anywhere.
Don’t work to please anyone other than yourself.
Listen to those who critique your work, listen especially to those who don’t like your work.
Learn from all the obstacles in your path.
The sun shines everywhere.
Rain can be an opportunity.
Do something out of nothing.
Live as if you’re already free, remember that freedom is found within.
Inspiration can be found in the least expected places often times, be open to it.
What is meant to be yours can’t miss you.
Escape the places that want to keep in despair.
Find a door.
Walk away.
Find a way.


Favorite Quotes

”All that happens to us, including our humiliations, our misfortunes, our embarrassments, all is given to us as raw material, as clay, so that we may shape our art.” Jorge Luis Borges

”I’ll stay out till I get in.” - Faith Ringgold

”Destiny is a series of detours.” - Unknown

”I was this way before I met you, I walked the same streets and ate the same foods. Even before I met you I was already in love with you, and sometimes, not just a few times, I missed you already, as if I had known I needed you.” - Julio Cortázar 

“She spent too much money on clothes, the hairdresser and shoes, not realizing that he’d rather see her naked, with messy hair and barefoot.” - Julio Cortázar 

“I have dreamed of you so much that my arms, grown used to being crossed on my chest as I hugged your shadow, would perhaps not bend to the shape of your body. I have dreamed of you so much, have walked so much, talked so much, slept so much 
with your phantom, that perhaps the only thing left for me is to become a phantom among phantoms.” - Robert Desnos

”I know there is no straight road, no straight road in this world. Only a giant labyrinth of intersecting crossroads.” - Federico García Lorca

”Caminante, no hay camino, se hace camino al andar.” - Antonio Machado