Artist Statement (2021 - current)

A large part of the vernacular growing up in a Catholic household surrounds gender, roles within the nuclear family, and tradition. Parts of these roles are performed, yet some are passed down through intergenerational trauma and become bound to who we are. The conditions that require the correct portrayal of these roles inherently inflict violence, not only onto the self, but to entire communities. As a queer child growing up in this environment, these shoes often felt too large to fill as I began to stumble into adulthood. My work focuses on the intersection between tradition and queer authenticity. I draw inspiration from Hispanic traditions and its entanglement with the Catholic church that are reflective of my childhood. I am largely influenced by vessels for the altar and the significance of the rituals they play a part of. My work explores the role of authority figures in the church, and how they are often mimicked by authority figures within a domestic setting. Through the utilization of ceramic, I question the permanent, yet fragile, rules that are provided in religious narratives and the inevitable fractures that are created.