My work reflects a fascination with pre-Columbian artifacts and the amazing celebration of color and spiritual mysticism that defines traditional Mexican folk art. What I want to define most of all through my work is the overwhelming sense of beauty that I find in Mexican culture through the use of vibrant colors and ethnic images in order to convey the sense of pride that I feel as a Chicana. The challenge is to fuse the ancient and the modern Mexican and to reflect our contributions to the two worlds that dominate our lives. I see the artifacts of mi cultura all around me. Nunca soy sin inspiración.

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 The Guerrero (Warrior) and the Tzintzuntzan (Place of the Hummingbirds) series were inspired by my ongoing fascination with the Aztec mythology of the resurrected warrior.  The Aztecs believed the manner in which a warrior died was more important than how he conducted himself in life and determined whether his soul ascended to the upper world or was cast into the under world.  Those Aztecs warriors who died honorably in battle were granted the privilege of accompanying the sun god, Tonatiuh, on his daily journey through the celestial realm.  After four years, the warrior was allowed to return to the earth as a hummingbird.

I have always been devoted to La Virgen de Guadalupe.  These paintings were inspired by a workshop held at Self-Help Graphics in Boyle Heights under the direction of John Montelongo entitled "Contemporary Images of La Virgen de Guadalupe".   

Various Paintings and Pastels

Drawings

Day of the Dead Pieces

Mixed Media Pieces