The artist I will focus on is Anna Valdez. They are from Sacramento California and are based out of Oakland California. Anna received their Bachelors in anthropology and also went to Boston University and received their MFA in painting in 2013. Their background in Anthropology in combination with their love of their community have been the driving force and inspiration to her artwork
Although she does a lot of paintings her artwork has a wide range. Their artwork includes drawing, painting, collages, ceramics, printmaking and several other forms. Anna’s wide range of art form is due to making a connection to materials, objects and cultural influences. Anna’s artwork has been inspired her community in California. She describes her work as somewhat as autobiographical. Annas art is representative of her life and other things that surround her and her community. For example she will incorporate random objects that one may find either in the street or in their house. The bright colors of their art, as I see it, emulate and is similar to the Latin@ textiles, for example similar to Mexican embroidery. Anna likes to center and include plants into her artwork, and it is very representative of the love of plants our ancestors or grandmothers had, that is passed down to us. 
Sources:
https://canadacollege.edu/news/index.php?postID=4670143316827062306&id=5670366946617807975
https://www.vice.com/en/article/wnpv9y/paints-soothing-flora
https://www.erikabhess.com/post/painter-anna-valdez-the-presence-of-painting
Hi Evangeline
ReplyDeleteI really loved your presentation of Anna Valdez's work, that I loved to follow her on instagram. I loved how it seemed like her work was of random things in her room. As an artist in a pandemic, it really seemed like something I would have painted. I appreciate you for showing her work