Autorretrato

STATEMENT

I grew up in Puerto Rico, surrounded by beautiful architecture, traffic signs, and street art. In the studio, I incorporate colors and patterns in my paintings to create a tactile, visual experience in which I reference this environment. Personal allegories have a strong presence in the work. Experiences, people, and animals appear as characters in the hidden narratives in the paintings. I use allegory to reinforce memories and hold on to them for longer. I am thinking about my experiences with my family and the objects that occupy those spaces where these memories are formed. I'm changing the original characteristics of these places, objects, or beings with how I interact with materials and colors. I explore mark-making and the fluidity of drawing and bring that into my painting language. I am inspired by street art and have been exploring that by making large scale paintings. Using markers and other drawing materials like oil sticks in these paintings brings my body into a familiar drawing space. These flatter drawing materials work to contrast with the chunky mediums and textured surfaces I am painting on.