With a Salvadoran mother and a Haitian father, I grew up between France, El Salvador, and the United States, cultivating a fluid sense of home and origin. My paintings seek to honor the diverse influences that have shaped me, navigating the daily dualities of rootedness and fluidity, presence and nostalgia, wonder and maturity. I blend memories into symbols and motifs that converge in my work to create a portrait of people, places, and the affections that connect them.
Much of my work has focused on exploring women’s experiences, particularly the ways these roles can feel isolating or unfulfilled. I delve into the sense of alienation women often face as they navigate the tension between societal expectations and personal aspirations. Though many of my pieces aren’t literal self-portraits, they are deeply rooted in my own reflections, touching on themes of womanhood, identity, and the passage from childhood to adulthood. This introspective approach allows me to capture universal feelings that resonate with others, exploring both the beauty and the tension within these journeys.
Lately, my work draws on memories and nostalgia, inspired by family archives stored for years in an attic in Paris. These photographies, letters, and objects form a bridge between past and present, linking my experiences in France, El Salvador, and Haiti. This current phase of artistic exploration brings me to childhood from an adult perspective, capturing the wonder and innocence of those early years while reflecting on how these sentiments endure, shaping who we become. Equally significant is the influence of family dynamics and transcultural experiences, which play a crucial role in shaping our sense of identity. The interplay of familial relationships, with their unique complexities and generational ties, leaves an indelible mark on how we understand ourselves. At the same time, navigating multiple cultural landscapes introduces a sense of fluidity in self-perception, as each cultural experience adds new layers to our understanding of belonging, home, and personal narrative. My work seeks to illuminate these intersections, revealing how both intimate family ties and broader cultural movements contribute to the ever-evolving process of identity formation.
