ARTIST STATEMENT
I was born in Washington, D.C. and spent my early years in the Adams Morgan neighborhood, where my parents and grandmother had recently settled after immigrating from Guatemala. We later moved to Gaithersburg, Maryland to a neighborhood where many other recent immigrants from Central America lived. Since I was young, I have been surrounded by friends and family who are used to feeling like they live at the margins of society. As a result, I am drawn to subjects that tend to be ignored. I like to focus and give attention to the “little things” and, in a way, try to make something out of “nothing”.
I was initially drawn to photography because of its immediacy and accessibility. As I explored the world around me, I found myself enthralled by the beauty I found in both nature and man-made structures. Whether examining a flower or rusted fence up close, I am fascinated by how sunlight, wind, and water affect and change my subjects. By capturing these spontaneous and fleeting moments, my hope is that the viewer is able to draw connections between human relations, nature, and time. Ultimately, I want to redefine what is considered worthy of being photographed, what can be considered art, and who can be an artist.