Reyna Noriega
VISUAL ARTIST & AUTHOR
What have you been working on? Gas yourself!
Balancing projects, making my new space home, and putting finishing touches on my next book coming this winter!
How does your culture inform your creative work?
I carry the weight of my families sacrifices. They bravely left behind all they knew to come to this country and make sure we had all the tools for success, that informs my work ethic. The vibrancy of my cultures informs my style and the feelings I try to convey in my work.
What is your greatest struggle/challenge these days?
Now that I feel entitled to rest and peace, I am trying to balance that with productivity that makes me feel good. So not overdoing either is the goal.
What does community mean for you as a creative?
Community is central. I am the product of my community. I learn from them, I uplift them, and it becomes a cycle. That life-force flows through me and I am able to create things that amplifies and uplifts my community.
What inspires you in your creative process?
My work is inspired by whatever message I need to communicate or whatever mood I want to model in that piece to inspire others. The main themes are representation for the experiences of women, especially women of color, and moods like pride, joy, and peace.
Is there anything happening in your community that you'd like to shed some light on?
I've been really affected lately by the suffering of women at the hands of their partners or men. We (starting with me) need to make space and start having more conversations surrounding how we keep women safe.
