My artwork takes a critical view on social and cultural issues. Through my paintings, I work to deconstruct the American dream, childhood, adulthood and the Mexican-American culture. Clothing has become an essential element in my research on my Mexican- American identity as well as an important material in my series. The layered fabric converts my paintings into sculptures. These sculptural paintings are portraits of my family members that have made a significant impact on my identity. The clothing I use can either distort or interact with my subjects, depending on how that individual has dealt with their own history such as childhood, adulthood, immigration, and their culture. Through my family I question my own morals and values, as two completely different cultures have taken over my life.
My portraits are the focal point of my series, I never paint a background because as I search more into my own history I will slowly start capturing a background. Until then, my backgrounds are vacant because to me backgrounds define a setting, at this moment I am still questioning who am I and where do I belong? The only defined moments in my paintings are my family members, because they are my only source to my identity at the moment. |