ADRIANA REYES

— My artistic philosophy is that as creatives it is our responsibility to first have a fundamental understanding of how we navigate the world. I believe first and foremost, our interpersonal experiences are a reflection of greater systems put in place to uplift some and suppress others. I treat my practice as both introspection and systemic critique as I explore my identity as a queer latine femme growing up in New York City.

My work consists of Oil Paint, Spray Paint, Printmaking, Watercolor, Acrylic Paint, and several other mediums. My material choice stems from my philosophy of art as a method of accessibility and grassroots. The use of spray paint within my work stems from the exposure I had to graffiti as a child. I find combining accessible materials with higher end materials illustrates the juxtaposition between the exposure to art I had as a child and my formal art education.

I identify as a political artist, as I believe the path towards liberation and creating significant art are intertwined. As a political artist, it’s my job to extract content for my work from my personal experiences. Whether that be in relation to my race, gender, sexual orientation etc. Most of my work is about my cultural upbringing, femininity, and queer politics. But as an activist (and human), it is my job to dedicate my work to causes that don’t directly affect me. My connection to the Intifada (or Palestinian uprising) is personal because of my close relationships with Palestinian people within my life, but it’s not as intrinsically connected to me as it is to them. For them it’s their culture, their lineage, and freedom to live. It’s my responsibility as someone whose work revolves around anti colonialism to extend solidarity towards this movement. It’s just that simple.

Instagram: @adrianasreyes