The figures inhabiting my work reference urban folklore, unvoiced perspectives of typically “one-sided” Latinx identity, and deep exploration of the self. As a New York-born Puerto Rican, I primarily depict the strain between social interaction and intimacy within this community. I present tense moments and fleeting snapshots for the audience to take in quickly. The paintings evoke the feeling of being outside looking in, and the characters give life drift between abstraction and more realistic portrayals of those within my inner tribe. There is always a longing for connection, whether truth, dream, memory, or something in between.

My portrayals are nebulous and have traits of human touch, but few other discernible features exist aside from a waving hand or an implied figure. The environments I set subjects into manifest as shifting color fields and bright atmospheric hazes that make several references to growing up in New York City and within the family home. These individuals interact and dance with their depictions, alluding to perreo dancing and the family album.

I abstract bodies, or body parts, to create highly personal stories. The representations presented are distorted, but the narratives are recognizable and relatable to us as the onlooker. My color palette is intuitive and quietly informs the temperament and feeling of the moments frozen in time. An even more intimate air is created in several works as individuals are seen with their hands gently placed on another limb, up in the air, or pointed towards the viewer. The overall effect is of time stopped during dreams seeking to rush into reality.