This work reimagines the traditional calavera as a vibrant symbol of remembrance, continuity, and celebration. Floral motifs, scrolling vines, and saturated color are carefully balanced across the skull’s surface, transforming a symbol of death into one of life, beauty, and cultural pride. Each ornamentation functions as a visual offering—honoring ancestry, memory, and the cyclical nature of existence. Rooted in Latin American visual language, the piece reflects Día de los Muertos traditions while embracing contemporary color and design. Rather than mourning loss, the work celebrates presence: the idea that those who came before us remain alive through ritual, art, and collective memory. The symmetry and intensity of the gaze invite viewers to confront mortality not with fear, but with reverence and joy.
This portrait presents a woman with a strong, stoic gaze, illuminated by a red nocturnal glow that both warms and unsettles the composition. The contrast between her calm exterior and the charged atmosphere of the light invites viewers to look beyond surface strength and consider the emotional complexity beneath. Her expression resists spectacle, instead asserting dignity, endurance, and self-possession. This piece represents the endless surges of emotion experienced by Hispanic women living in Minnesota in January 2026—navigating cultural identity, resilience, and belonging within the isolation of winter. The red light functions as both a symbol of inner vitality and emotional tension, reflecting persistence in the face of environmental and social coldness. Through stillness and intensity, the work honors quiet strength and lived experience.
Something Blue is a portrait that captures a quiet, candid moment of bridal introspection. Rendered in profile against a serene blue field, the subject’s expression is calm, grounded, and luminous—suggesting a fleeting pause amid celebration. White floral accents woven into her hair reference tradition, while the cool background evokes the symbolic “something blue,” a gesture toward continuity, devotion, and emotional clarity. As the artist, I created this piece as an ode to wedding season and to that subtle mental spark that appears late in the night—when the spectacle fades and authenticity surfaces. Regardless of how a wedding unfolds, a joyful bride carries an undeniable beauty rooted in presence rather than performance. This work especially honors Latin women, celebrating their warmth, strength, and the effortless grace that emerges in moments of sincerity. The portrait resists grandeur, instead embracing intimacy, reverence, and quiet joy.