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Hi dear ones reading. This is Paola Castelo. I’m originally from Sonora, Mexico and my roots are from the indigenous Yaqui of Sonora. I’m an artist, a mother of two daughters and the founder of Art Movement platform Vuelta Sur. I’m also the founder and director of the Vuelta Sur Arts and Culture foundation. To read more about my story on why I do the work I do and more about what our foundation does you can visit our website vueltasur.com WHAT ARE YOU SHOWING? Our platform Vuelta Sur has curated an incredible list of exhibitions happening as well as events. I wouldn’t miss the Museo Tamayo Gala event as is to raise funds for the next year ahead of exhibitions. As many of you might know the government of Mexico cut all funding for the arts and culture so I think is important we support the museums we have to continue increasing our international knowledge in the arts and culture. I also wouldn’t miss meeting Gabriel Orozco at Kurimanzutto Gallery. WHO ARE ARTISTS TO WATCH? Frieda Toranzo Jaeger with Travesía Cuatro. WHAT ARE YOU DOING BETWEEN AND AFTER THE SHOWS? This year Vuelta Sur has two museum collaborations and 14 partnerships with renowned galleries so my time will be divided between all the visits and also some nighttime events. On Tuesday night I will be at “No se vende” party at the abandoned house of Porfirio Diaz. On Thursday night at the Museo Tamayo Gala. I’m excited for all the exhibitions happening as I know how much work goes into them. I truly admire and congratulate all the teams involved in making their dreams a reality and for their continued efforts in making sure Mexico is one of the top countries for emerging arts and culture. Hugs to everyone reading and if you see me please say hi! EXPLORE MORE: @paola_castelo @vueltasur Vuelta Sur linktree SEE HERMANAS CURATION OF MEXICO CITY ART WEEK HERE

Traveler and passionate about art and literature since she was very young, always committed to work for the growth of her country, Mara Ortega Arena is the Head of Development at Museo Tamayo, where she supervises the implementation of the necessary activities and strategies to contribute to the success of the institution's cultural program. Always with the firm intention of participating in social change, Mara never stops getting involved in creative projects which she believes can make a positive impact in the world. WHAT ARE YOU SHOWING? Ragnar Kjartansson, The Things You See Before The Curtain Hits the Floor: Ragnar Kjartansson (Reykjavik, Iceland, 1976) uses theatrical conventions and their paradoxes to create works that often examine emotions, imposture, the historical and the autobiographic, as well as the politics of representation. Employing simple strategies such as repetition or the recreation of an action from different scenarios and points of view, the artist produces situations that illuminate the very matter of spectacle. Repetition reveals nuances and variations with the gravity of a mantra and the richness of a kaleidoscopic image. His performances can last up to twelve hours, run continuously in the museum gallery for as long as the exhibition is open to the public, or be recreated every five years. Humor and the absurd appear in his work to amplify and distort meaning. ‍The tension between fiction and lie, spectacle and confession, person and character is the common thread that runs through the performances, installations, videos and paintings in this exhibition by Kjartansson, the first in Latin America. The title of the exhibition is a reference to "Theatre Impressions," a poem by the 1996 winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Wislawa Szymborska. In the closing lines, the poet evokes the power of theater once its illusions are revealed and it grows in its artifice: "But the curtain's fall is the most uplifting part / the things you see before it hits the floor: / here one hand quickly reaches for a flower, / there another hand picks up a fallen sword." As is the case in several of Kjartansson's plays, theater is at once simulation and truth. Petrit Halilaj, Runik: Through drawing, sculptures, costumes, and installations, Petrit Halilaj’s (b. 1986) migratory creatures gather around a scaled floating structure of the house he and his family built in the country’s capital of Pristina after their old home in Runik was destroyed during the bombings of the Kosovo War. As part of the exhibition, Halilaj has also inscribed a large scale chicken—a bird famously known as one of the few unable to fly—onto a Boeing 737 aircraft operated by Aeroméxico. Both the architectural rendition of his family home and the airplane serve as vessels for Halilaj’s memories of belonging and dreams of migration. Petrit Halilaj: RUNIK is the artist’s first solo exhibition in Latin America, showcasing how art has not only been his vehicle to travel and learn about the world, but also a medium through which he can explore and express complicated emotions about the history of his homeland and his identity. Now living in Berlin but with strong roots in Kosovo and close ties to several places around the world, Halilaj’s understanding of home is anchored in bonds of affection. WHAT IS NOT TO BE MISSED? I would definitely not miss visiting Abraham González Pacheco’s show at Campeche gallery (Campeche 130, Roma). Abraham is a visual artist, set designer, draftsman and amateur excavator. His work proposes an approach to his family and personal origins with the absent historical core of his town, and through this, he creates archeological fictions to reflect on the idea of identity. WHAT ARE YOU DOING BETWEEN AND AFTER THE SHOWS? This year is the 20th anniversary of Zona Maco, so this without a doubt will be a very special edition of the fair. And Material Art Fair turns 10, and this fair is also unmissable so you will probably see me there at some point, and without a doubt at their event at Polyforum Siqueiros, opening their doors especially for Carlos Amorales, Estados fragmentados, on Wednesday Feb 7th. I am of course excited to visit our city’s many galleries, they will mostly be opening new and exciting shows timed perfectly for Art Week and I am sure that we will get to see emerging proposals that will open the conversation on the world’s current social and artistic expression. On Thursday, obviously, the Tamayo Gala is a must. The relevance of this event in the international art scene has met no equal and we are happy to host great leaders and impactful artists from around the world in a night filled with delicious food by Contramar, a fun party by Casa Dragones, great musical acts, and of course lots dancing and celebration. Also, I will be visiting my Maxa and Mayan Warrior friends on Friday Feb. 9th joining them in a magical night that definitely requires dancing shoes! These, among other happenings, make a pretty exciting week ahead! Btw, for those who will be traveling both nationally and internationally, keep an eye out to see if you get to be on board the Aeromexico aircraft that has been intervened by the artist Petrit Halilaj, in continuation to his current exhibition at Museo Tamayo and taking art to new heights! EXPLORE MORE: @maraortegaarena Museo Tamayo SEE HERMANAS CURATION OF MEXICO CITY ART WEEK HERE

Pandora Graessl (FR, CH) is a multidisciplinary artist and photographer based in Mexico City. Inspired by the desire to understand our journey on Earth, her practice explores the relationship between human mind-bodies and the natural dimension. A nomadic life and an insatiable curiosity for the planet has fostered her global creative vision. Drawing from a plurality of references, Graessl’s explores her deep interest in ancestral mythology and the powerful realm of dreams. WHAT ARE YOU SHOWING? I'm showing photography, sculptures, a sound piece in collaboration with Moises Hadid Sacal the founder of xpan, some objects made with designer Paolo Angelucco and a whole mythological installation world around the symbolism of the snake and the duality it embodies. WHO IS THE ARTIST TO WATCH? I'm showing in an abandoned building in Anzures - It's a 3 floor maze of works, a journey to get lost and be found again. WHAT ARE YOU DOING BETWEEN AND AFTER THE SHOWS? There is a whole program going on, between cocktails, opening and parties. This period of the year is so busy and electric.The city is in full ebullition. I'll go to Materials Happening,  Kurimanzutto, The french embassy dinner as they are one of my sponsors, Tamayo Gala + my own dinner I'm doing with the brand Jean-Paul Gaultier within my exhibition. This event will probably turn into a little party. :) EXPLORE MORE: @_Pandorama pandoragraessl.com graesslstudio.com SEE HERMANAS CURATION OF MEXICO CITY ART WEEK HERE All images by Pandora Graessl

I am Miriam Torres, and I have been working at Material art fair for 7 years. My role involves strategic alliances and coordinating content for the Programming, which includes activities that happen alongside the fair. WHAT ARE YOU SHOWING, AND WHAT IS NOT TO BE MISSED?? We are celebrating the 10th anniversary of the fair. Don't miss the event from February 8th to 11th at Expo Reforma. Also, make sure to check out the performance by artist Carlos Amorales at the Polyforum Cultural Siqueiros and the presentation of Poncil Creation at the Carcamo de Dolores. WHO ARE THE ARTISTS TO WATCH? In the "Casa Ideal" show curated by Enrique Giner, you can find the work of several emerging artists. Maggy Petroni at General Expenses, Ulrik Lopez and Dorian Ulises López at Agustína Ferreyra gallery, and at Salón Silicón, don't miss "Hotel Fatiga" by Sofía Hinojosa. WHAT ARE YOU DOING BETWEEN AND AFTER THE SHOWS? For dining, I recommend Maizajo and Bar El Tigre Silencioso. Don't miss the anniversary party of Material x EXT on Saturday, February 10th, in the Doctores neighborhood, which also features a show by Alex Baczy´nski-Jenkis. Tickets are available online on @mmmmmaterial's social media. EXPLORE MORE: @miriflorever https://material-fair.com SEE HERMANAS CURATION OF MEXICO CITY ART WEEK HERE

My name is Age Salajõe, an Estonian-born, Mexico City-based professional. In 2016, I arrived in Mexico with a keen design eye and an entrepreneurial approach to cross-pollination between mediums-whether it being art, design, or beauty. I am the co-founder and a director of MASA, a gallery that bridges the gap between art and collectible design, EWE Studio, a studio devoted to preserving and advancing Mexico's rich artisan heritage. I am also the founder of NETA VERE, an on-demand beauty and wellness services, and e-commerce platform. In blurring the lines across mediums, I have always advocated for the nuanced relationship between aesthetics and functionality and for cross-cultural ways of thinking. WHAT ARE YOU SHOWING? I am thrilled about MASA's upcoming exhibition with the New York-based gallery Luhring Augustine. Our collaborative exhibition at our gallery in Mexico City is truly something I am very proud of. Together, we are presenting a roster of artists and designers in conversation with one another, including Christina Forrer, Mark Handforth, Mohammed Sami, Salman Toor, Rachel Whiteread, Héctor Esrawe, Panorammma, Brian Thoreen, Héctor Zamora, and more. In addition to MASA, my studio, EWE, has an open studio in Roma Norte that I encourage everyone to visit as well. On view at MASA Galería opening Feb 6 Location Joaquín A. Pérez 6. San Miguel Chapultepec CDMX WHAT IS NOT TO BE MISSED? There are many wonderful things happening during the art week, from open studios and collaborative artist pop-up exhibitions, to gallery openings all over town, apart from the fairs, of course. Apart from Maco, Material, and Acme, I wouldn't miss the Co'ma and Peana collaborative exhibition at Juan O’Gorman's studio. I am also looking forward to Peana’s solo exhibition for Julia Rometti, Anahuacalli to see Wyatt Kahn’s presentation, as well as Emil Sands at Jo-hs, and Dante Medinas open studio. A solo show of Newton at Lodos, as well Abraham Gonzales’s solo show at Campeche, and Naranjo 141. And of course, Travesia Cuatro, Mascota, Kurimanzutto, and OMR. WHO ARE THE ARTISTS TO WATCH? I am keeping my keen eye on Panorammma and Dante Medina. WHAT ARE YOU DOING BETWEEN AND AFTER THE SHOWS? I will be fully present at MASA throughout the art week, and I try not to do many things during this week, but to see the exhibitions in calm the following week. However, I will make sure to attend Material's Carlos Amorales performance, Rafael Prieto’s opening, the pop-up bar by Loup Sarion and Charlotte vander Borght at Mascota, Lago Algo, and squeeze in meals at few places around town. I usually grab a green juice from the street vendor around my house and head to work, or get a croissant from Saint on a naughty day. I would also recommend Amanda Manda or Expendío de Maíz for breakfast, El Sella or Coox Hanal for lunch, and Bar el Bosque for an early dinner. For late-night vibes rather than food, I suggest Covadonga. Apart from Rosetta, Maximo, Hugo, and Contramar, which are always a special treat, but tend to be very busy on that week. EXPLORE MORE: @agesalajoe MASA Galeria EWE Studio NETA VERE SEE HERMANAS CURATION OF MEXICO CITY ART WEEK HERE

Sarah Len is the Founder and Creative Director behind MATERIA, a multidisciplinary platform to discover art, design and culture. Her creative agency represents a global roster of designers and artists including creative direction, communications, brand and business development. A design-world insider whose experience spans over a decade developing the careers of high-profile creatives, including Ken Fulk, Darren Jett, Alex P White, AvroKO, and Julia Carrillo.  Sarah has created a dynamic and personalized incubator for creative talent and businesses to expand, grow and achieve their wildest dreams. With a background in Architecture and Global Studies, Sarah brings a unique perspective that is equal parts strategic and visionary. WHAT ARE YOU SHOWING? Materia presents SCULPTED, an exhibition bringing together the works of the Mexican artist Jorge Yázpik and New York-based design studio Known Work. The pairing of Yázpik’s sculptural works with Known Work’s functional design pieces encapsulate the porous boundaries between art and design, form and function. The exhibition is meant to engage viewers in a sensorial conversation, one that inspires new understandings of the importance of spatial context in the presentation and appreciation of art and design. On view at MATERIA Studio Feb 7-11 from 11-6p and by appointment Feb 12-26 Location Serapio Rendon 8 Interior 106 Col. San Rafael CDMX WHAT IS NOT TO BE MISSED? One of the exhibits I'm most looking forward to will be an offsite exhibition presented by Peana Gallery in the home of the late composer Conlon Nancarrow designed by Juan O'Gorman in 1950. The exhibit will bring together contemporary work by 24 artists. They are fantastic at bringing together art, architecture, culture and history and never disappoint! WHO ARE THE ARTISTS TO WATCH? Jorge Yázpik and Known Work at MATERIA Daniel Lezama at Galeria Hilario Galguera Brian Thoreen at Masa Gallery Gabriel Orozco at Kurimanzutto WHAT ARE YOU DOING BETWEEN AND AFTER THE SHOWS? Meditating! EXPLORE MORE: @sarah_morgan_len @materia___magazine @materia___creative https://materia.press/es/ SEE HERMANAS CURATION OF MEXICO CITY ART WEEK HERE

As we step into a new year, we find ourselves at the intersection of reflection and anticipation, eager to continue this journey together. A heartfelt gratitude to every woman contributing to the growth and vitality of our network. You are the ones steering our path. Every evolution we experience is a result of keen observation and the invaluable feedback that you provide. Grab a cup of coffee and settle in – we’ve got some awesome community insights from 2023 for you! SUBJECTS OF CONVERSATION: Cultural exploration • Career development • Events & Experiences • Emotional & Mental health • Motherhood • Philanthropy • Sexuality • Impact • Diversity, Equality & Inclusion • Physical health • Sustainability • Biohacking & Longevity • Local tips & Guides • Tavel & Hospitality • Spirituality • Mysticism & Esoteric practices • Financial health • Feminism & Women empowerment • Music & Sound • Psychedelics & Alternative medicine • Art. If you are not yet a member of the Mycelium, applications are currently open to Founding Members — remarkable, passionate women who are close to our hearts as the nucleus of a purposeful movement, an integral part of our inner circle. There's a world of benefits waiting for you to discover. In 2024, We are excited to delve even deeper into your individual stories, perspectives, and unique qualities. Here's to a new year filled with promise, possibilities, and the unwavering spirit that defines the Hermanas DNA family. Thank you for your presence, With love.

Hermanas, We are living our future right now. As women worldwide, we know that the path of beauty and integrity is not always easy. The process of growth, as a collective and a company, is also a path of struggle and darkness, as well as success and strength. The impact you and we have been creating together so far is radical and vital. Our method is and always has been, elevation and celebration of individuality, creativity, artistry. Passionately. And our journey of maturity is a reflection of yours. As we take on the next step, we ask that you are prepared - and present with us. THIS IS A PIVOTAL MOMENT We are officially breaking free from the limits of WhatsApp. Elevating to an independent platform to empower us all - in ways beyond anything WhatsApp ever could. Born in a uniquely tailored platform that uses technology intentionally, to evolve the global opportunities and real-life functions that have always made this movement so special. Today and since the start, Hermanas is powered by you, your input, your voices. Where we stand now is astounding, considering how humble this journey began; grown from a passionate group of women on a beach in Mexico, now thriving as a worldwide movement of empowerment. Now a dedicated HQ team exists in service to you, alongside community ambassadors, local partners, events, initiatives… WHAT IS THE MYCELIUM ? The Mycelium is the refined version of Hermanas. It is the ecosystem of women who truly shape our movement. The Mycelium is a place to collaborate, connect, co-create, highlight your projects, initiatives, opportunities, exchanges. It unlocks the full potential of Hermanas’ vision and our positive and powerful impact - globally, socially, individually, and collectively. HOW CAN I CONTRIBUTE ? The mission we have devoted over 5 years to bringing to life rests on reciprocity. To sustain this grassroots progression, and to evolve into the Mycelium, our intention is to charge what can be accessible to as many as possible. A membership of 150 usd per year (which is 12.5 usd per month) that provides a value beyond financial. Investing in the Mycelium gains you access to these advantages - and acts as a testament to your belief in our mission. To nurture growth is what we do and what we are about: personally, professionally and globally. Our vision is and always has been, to inspire and reflect the uprising of women. As we refine and evolve alongside you, we are so proud and excited to reveal the Mycelium as the current height of this collective mission. And beyond the Mycelium as it is now, la crème de la crème launches very soon : next year we reveal the evolved & eagerly-anticipated Hermanas app. We are genuinely passionate about this vision and here in service to you as the collective. In love and revolution, Dragana & Léa

In our constant movement towards improvement, we are uniting our WhatsApp housing groups into four Communities, organized by region: Europe / USA & Canada / LATAM / APAC, Middle East, Africa Inspired by your feedback, this change is bound to enhance security, unity and ease in the ways we exchange our homes. Here you will find exactly what it means for you and how to join the Communities of your choice. Upgrading your Experience Better Navigation: Seamlessly navigate (enter & leave) all housing groups (cities) in your region. Open new locations: Suggest new locations within your region(s), in a single click. Safety & Guidance: Enjoy a harmonious space by adhering to our Housing Communities Guidelines. Embracing Reciprocity Since 2019, our Housing groups have provided thousands of women to share their homes efficiently, entirely for free. Behind the scenes, curating these groups has required considerable energy and passion. Now, we invite your contribution to sustain our sisterhood, facilitating its growth in a secure, trusted, and organic manner. Contributions and Early Birds benefits For Founding Members of the Mycelium, the access to the communities is gracefully included. For non-members, we're introducing a ONE-TIME ENTRY FEE for participants — a symbolic investment to reflect the value, intimacy and reciprocity of our space. Timing is of essence! Secure your spot swiftly, as our housing communities hold a limited number of spots. The housing groups will stop functioning as we launch the Communities, on December 1st. In these changes, we see an opportunity to weave a tighter community spirit. Your continued feedback, support and love for our sisterhood bring life to these updates. Thank you for your presence, With love.

Steffi Strom is a multi disciplinary artist, interior architect, and all around designer. She’s the founder of Sublime Studios, an international and multi-facetted design firm based in Mexico and Sweden. We talked to her about brutalist architecture, design as the backbone of good living and what it means to be unconventional. Q: Steffi, your work is centered around the human experience through a design lens. How is your heart today and how does this feeling fuel your creative work? A: My heart today feels full of truth. There are many perspectives that life offers regarding truths. For instance, how you can see something from a different perspective? Seeing it from a design perspective, for example, an object can take on different shapes and forms—different angles. So, my heart stands today between perspectives and truths, but also transparency and compassion. Q: That’s beautiful. As a multi-disciplinary artist, where do you draw inspiration from? A: What inspires me is creativity of any kind. From different sounds, to different textures, to different light shades of tones of color. Voices, heartbeats, the smell of flowers, the taste of food, culinary experiences, traveling. Q: You have a 360-degree design firm and creative studio called Sublime Studios, encompassing from graphic design, to architecture, to sound design, to art installations. Tell me a bit about your journey, what got you to want to create in that many languages?** A: I realized very early on in my career that as a designer, I actually wanted full creative ownership over the entire process within a project. I also knew then that I didn’t want to work for someone else but wanted full creative freedom. Q: How so? A: I believe that every aspect of our human experience can be elevated through design. I wanted to tie together all the aspects of the design process and fulfill my own 360 creative vision. Q: This is fantastic! As a creative myself, this is truly inspiring. How do you manage your creative flows? Does it help that your creativity can be channeled into art or design one day, and furniture and music the next? A: Yes! I offer a lot because I absolutely love creating from every possible angle. It's fun that sometimes some part of the creations have a shorter timespan, and sometimes they take longer. This allows my attention span to kind of move between short and long-term. I get bored if all my products are just plain architecture, as they take too long to create while at the same time, I get a little bit overwhelmed if I take on only short-term projects, like furniture, for instance. I like to blend and go from one to the other. Q: Any project or success story that you are proud of or want to share with us? A: One project is called Hotel Noura. It’s my dream project. It’s at the beach in Tulum, Mexico. My firm did the architecture, interior design, interior architecture, all the furniture design and the lighting design. We’re also collaborating with Luis Fernando Sarrelangue, a Mexican musician who will compose the sounds for the hotel. The hotel itself is a 26-room boutique hotel. It has a gallery in the basement, a spa on the third floor overlooking everything. It also has a beautiful restaurant, and a lounge, something we call “the circle.” Q: I see that every piece for this project has its own symbolism. With, for instance, the fountain in the middle representing the flow of life with its circular rebirth and death. What inspired you here? I see a lot of Mayan references with tension between light and shadow, hard surfaces vs. soft textures. A: Yes, I designed every single detail of the entire hotel, every piece with its own meaning. The huge fountain is actually an homage to the one in Mexico City’s Anthropology museum. It’s like mixing my experiences in Japan with my life Mexico, and with my Swedish identity, like a mix of brutalism, wabi sabi, and Mexican architecture—very earthly. I had another project called Casa Shalva. We designed all the stone and outdoor furniture, plus the lighting. Here you also see this tension between light and dark, soft and hard. The yin and yang sculpture, for instance, is made from St Tomas stone and the dining table, the chairs, and the fireplace come from the same block of stone, a local Yucatán lime stone called crema Maya. This project made it to the front cover of Elle decor this past June. Q: Your work feels very unconventional. From your approach to design, to the way you work with materials. What does ‘unconventional’ mean to you and does living unconventionally resonate with how you live your life? A: I would say the unconventional is something like living your truth, no matter where or the circumstances you find yourself in. You are always being authentic to who you are. Sometimes that looks like moving to places that make no sense to other people, taking a job that makes no sense to other people, saying no to money to actually have the freedom to be yourself. I would say that, indeed, my design is definitely unconventional. I like things when they are “unfinished”. I like the raw states of items and objects. And I'm very much into materiality, which probably is very conventional. But the unconventional aspect is, for instance, something like mixing the refined and the raw, mixing the underground with the higher levels of society. Mixing the old with the contemporary, the extremes of fashion, design and music among other things. Q: Steffi, you’ve just become a (single) mom and chose home birth. A: Very unconventional. Yes, I chose a home birth. Without medical staff, or (very) unconventional, especially in Sweden, it's 0.01% of the population. And usually, if you do a home birth, then you always have a midwife. I would say I definitely am far from a bring a conventional mother, with many ideas around health and well being. I believe that if my child could be created by my body's intelligence, the whole way through to birth, then a child who is well and healthy will make it. I also decided to break up with the father of my child, the father of Li, during the pregnancy, because I felt that I wanted to spare myself and her the energy that it was given to him if we were still together. So yeah, the unconventional thing of breaking up with someone in the fourth month of pregnancy, probably not very common. I don’t really know what it means to be a mom yet, (only been 4 months) but I definitely feel that I’m unconventional in everything I do and how I live my life.

In a passionate & heartfelt pursuit, we are concentrating Hermanas into a new space. It’s a new moment in time, a new evolution, and we are proudly revealing Hermanas in a newly refined & elevated form. Our future app will give Hermanas a sexier presence that honors our vision, and keeps our community cutting-edge. Founding Members are invited to better our understanding of how to craft a revolutionary hub that caters to all of our needs and dreams. Stay tuned to participate in the surveys, online and in-person workshop we'll be hosting. Hoping to launch in 2024.

Mattie Marguerite Martinez is an American artist whose work spans through a variety of creatives modes of expression. Exploring the boundaries between deeply personal experiences and collective memories, her works often pose questions about the construction and deconstruction of the mind and the existence of being. Q: Mattie, as an artist, your work is driven by your emotions and experiences throughout your life. How does your emotional landscape feel and look like today? How is your heart? A: It's an interesting question. My heart in this moment is good. I’ve actually been thinking a lot these days on the heart space and how our relationship to our heart affects our energy and our moods and the world we see in our everyday life. Finding a balance in the heart space is a very vulnerable place to be, but it’s also the place you hold the most power when you harness it correctly. It is a lifetime of working with yourself and recalibrating yourself. Q: Tell me a bit about you and your journey? A: I was born just outside of Washington D.C and then moved to Atlanta, where I grew up. Art was my first language and the first way I learned how to express myself: I’ve always been a creative. Ever since I was a child, I was always drawing or making something. Growing up, I always struggled in school and the classic American academic settings. I was so lucky to have my parents, who were always supportive of putting me into extracurricular activities where I felt I could properly express myself without - what I felt - were limitations around how I could be and who I was. I mostly always had some extra art or dance class in my schedule throughout all of grade school. I then got a scholarship to a really amazing art school in Chicago, which was also my favorite city in the U.S at the time and moved there for four years to get my bachelors in Painting and Fine Arts. And, I always thought I was going to be a painter, and I still am, but halfway through my education, I switched into Graphic Design and Visual Communications, and also started working at a gallery in West Town Chicago where I gained a massive interest in the very unique industry and structure of the art world in general. So, I moved to London, one of the art capitals of the world, to continue my education in the art industry. This time was incredibly pivotal in my life because while I had temporarily stopped making art for the first time in my life, I was constantly inspired by the overwhelming amount of creativity and history that constantly surrounded me every day. I fell in love with researching and learning the stories and philosophies behind other artists and their work and London was the perfect place to be in addition to being a direct access point to other art epicenters of Europe, such as Paris and Venice. In March of 2020, I moved to New York for a job at a gallery, where I only worked for one week before the whole city and the world shut down. I was in between Texas and an empty New York for most of that year until a good friend of mine told me to come to Mexico City. I flew there, and once again, the whole course of my life changed. Just a simple flight to Mexico was the start of an entire chapter in my life where I started living nomadically, working with a creative agency in design and art direction and working from the computer, and was also surrounded by some of my favorite living artists that I know. While I learned so much in my time in London, Mexico was the place where I reconnected with my heart the most and became the most “me” I feel I have ever been. I've noticed the patterns of connection to location or connection to places that I have been have always left a big and never-ending mark on my creative journey and personal growth (which work in tandem). I find inspiration in the environment and culture of different places, and this sense of connection has contributed to my vision of the world as well. Now I mostly live in Los Angeles. Throughout the last few years, I had several crucial moments of my development as a creative that made me realize that my expression does not and will never fit in just one or two (or any) categories. I have many many ways of expressing myself all the time, whether it be through drawing, writing, design, and now photography, which I started practicing throughout all of my travels since the start of the pandemic. Photography became a source of creative therapy for me: a way to reconnect and ground myself with my surroundings and develop deeper relationships to wherever I go. For example, photography, like all other forms of creative thinking, helps me see the beauty in everything, good or bad. For me, everything has a story and every story can be reinterpreted in millions of ways over and over again, all the time. Q: What’s your creative process like? A: The creative process is an ongoing investigation of intangible concepts that effect our subconscious such as dreams, the essence of memories, time and space. Q: What are topics you cover within your art and work? What type of materials or sources of inspiration do you use? A: My work is often very personal and is rooted in storytelling and mark making. Whether it be my photography or my writing or my illustration - I love the feeling of capturing a moment candidly. Q: What are the principles that your work stands for and why? A: I believe in always exercising my ability of continuous learning and curiosity….I don't ever want to stop for the rest of my life. Q: Understanding that “success” is objective, tell me about any success stories or do you have a particular story to share that is special somehow? A: "Success story" is an interesting term because that idea is really what I have struggled with for most of my life. It's been a bit distorted by the capitalist idea of success, or at least that's what first comes to mind for me when I first hear / see that word. It plays into the idea that you finalize a series of steps and processes which are otherwise meaningless until you reach your goal. It feeds into this idolization of "being the best" or perfectionism with these undertones of competing against one another. Everything I have done up until now and everything that will happen after is a success story to me :) Every time I choose to follow what my heart tells me to do and listen to my intuition, that is a success story. It's all about perception. Q: If you could describe your vision for your art in one word what would it be? A: This is not one word but, “Live the questions”. After all of this time I realized (and am still reminding myself) that all of my art should always be about me and my relationship to it. I should stop wasting time worried about the outcome of a vision and just follow my intuition on something I feel is right for me to do. The answers will find their way to me. Or, sometimes they don’t. But that is the beauty of it.