My work explores the power of transformative abstraction, a physical and emotional process of building, breaking down, and reconstructing canvas to mirror personal evolution, memory, and renewal. This body of work began with an intense focus on labor and scale, constructing large-scale wooden frames and hand-stretching canvas before immersing myself in heavy layers of paint. However, the initial attempt left the surfaces overworked, the colors muddy, and the compositional harmony lost. Stepping away from the studio provided the distance needed to realize that these dense, heavy canvases were mirroring my own journey of rebuilding life as a single mother of four and the weight of it all. The reality of motherhood profoundly shifted my artistic practice, forcing me to adapt to painting in intense, short bursts of time. Rather than discarding the chaotic surfaces, I chose to embrace every flawed layer, using those rapid applications of paint to reflect the swift cadence of my daily life and the generational weight I carry.

Beams of color expand across the composition, disrupting the weight of the background with sharp bursts of energy. As seen in the contrasting angular forms of my work where bold red, blue, and black gradients slice through dense, splattered backgrounds, reminiscent of the sun rising.  The work becomes a meditation on resilience, beauty, and transformation.

Behind these sharp geometric rays, soft color gradients reminiscent of twilight anchor the work in transition. Within this light, three dimensional Monarch butterflies emerge as a recurring theme. Beyond representing personal awakening, the Monarch holds sacred ancestral significance, serving as a visual bridge to my mother’s roots. Adopted at a young age and stripped of her culture, her story reflects the systemic erasure experienced by Indigenous peoples. In Indigenous Mexican traditions, the Monarch's annual migration carries the spirits of departed loved ones; through this imagery, the butterfly becomes a powerful symbol of grief, honor, and the reclamation of the Indigenous identity my mother was denied.

The movement and symbolism of the Monarch also confront harsh historical and contemporary realities. This systemic erasure directly mirrors the historical displacement and forced assimilation of Indigenous and Native peoples across this continent, a legacy of control that continues today through the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. As an emblem of free, unhindered migration, the Monarch stands in stark contrast to these institutional forces. This conflict comes alive through the raw texture of the canvas with visceral paint splashes and vigorous, expressive mark making serve as physical manifestations of anger and active resistance against racial discrimination, oppression, and displacement. The dynamic tension between these fiery, chaotic marks, rigid geometric boundaries, and free flowing dimensional butterflies captures an ongoing struggle for identity and liberation. Abstraction allows me to process these deep life shifts, grief, and ancestral reclamation without relying on literal representation. Ultimately, these canvases are a reminder that even when the self feels fractured, obscured, or severed from its roots, light continues to break through.