YOU GREW UP BETWEEN CUBA AND THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. HOW HAVE THESE CULTURAL ROOTS INFLUENCED YOUR ARTISTIC VOICE?

My relationship to Cuba—where I was born—and the Dominican Republic has always been complex. I never fit neatly into either culture, and that quiet tension shaped my artistic voice early on. Feeling out of place taught me to look inward, to observe from the margins, and to build a personal language rooted in introspection rather than tradition. I draw more from atmosphere, memory, and internal states than from cultural symbols. That sense of not fully belonging gave me the freedom to invent, to question, and to create work that reflects ambiguity, contradiction, and quiet resistance.

YOUR WORK IS FILLED WITH VIBRANT COLOR AND EXPRESSIVE FIGURES. WHAT EMOTIONS OR STORIES ARE YOU MOST DRAWN TO TELL?

I’m drawn to stories that live in the in-between—moments of emotional transition, when something is just about to shift. There’s often a tension between calm and intensity, between innocence and something more unsettling. I use vibrant colour and expressive figures to highlight that contrast. The surface may feel luminous or serene, but there’s usually something deeper moving underneath. I’m interested in how people hold their strength quietly—how vulnerability and power can exist side by side. My goal is less about a linear narrative and more about capturing a psychological atmosphere, a kind of charged stillness.

HOW HAS MIGRATION AND MOVING ACROSS COUNTRIES SHAPED THE THEMES OF IDENTITY OR BELONGING IN YOUR WORK?

Migration makes you deeply aware of what you carry and what you lose. That duality runs through much of my work. I often pair human figures with animals to explore belonging not just as a physical place, but as a state of being—somewhere between memory, imagination, and adaptation.

YOUR PIECES OFTEN FEEL CELEBRATORY, YET DEEPLY EMOTIONAL. HOW DO YOU BALANCE JOY AND VULNERABILITY IN YOUR PRACTICE?

For me, joy and vulnerability are two parts of the same process. What begins in pain often shifts into something luminous. After darkness, something opens—and it’s as if we remember a time when everything felt connected, when beauty wasn’t rare or delicate, but natural. I try to paint from that place.

WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO TAKE PART IN THE 4BYSIX AUCTION PROJECT?

There was a time in my life—not long ago—when everything felt uncertain, and I had to rely on the kindness of others to get through. Some people turned away, but others showed up and offered support when I needed it most. I’ll never forget that. That’s why being part of this project is so meaningful to me. Everyone deserves support and second—or third—chances. However many it takes. To find your footing again. To heal. To grow. Or simply to feel seen and held during hard moments. This cause touches me deeply.

HOW DO YOU SEE ART PLAYING A ROLE IN SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES OR ENCOURAGING HEALING?

Art reminds us of our humanity. It’s both a tool and a vehicle for transformation—a form of catharsis. It brings people together across differences, creating space for beauty, reflection, and shared experience. As both a mental and physical act, it demands presence and focus—qualities that can support emotional healing and help ease anxiety or trauma. When words fail, art speaks. And in communities facing disconnection or hardship, it can open doors to dialogue, connection, and hope.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE THE PIECE YOU CREATED FOR THE 4BYSIX AUCTION, AND THE EMOTIONS BEHIND IT?

This painting features a woman cradling a lion among lush leaves and fruit. It’s about inner guardianship—the quiet power of protecting something wild and sacred within yourself. The fruit symbolize abundance and tenderness, while the lion reflects courage, protection, and sensitivity. The atmosphere is calm but alert, holding that delicate balance between nurture and vigilance.

CAN YOU TELL US ABOUT THE PIECE YOU CREATED FOR THE AUCTION? WHAT WAS YOUR INTENTION BEHIND IT, AND WHERE DOES IT SIT WITHIN YOUR BROADER PRACTICE?

“Alone in the Universe” is a concept I explored for a year. The piece tells the story of someone searching for someone else to share a good moment with.

WHAT FUTURE THEMES OR PROJECTS ARE YOU EXCITED TO EXPLORE NEXT?

I’m drawn to mythological storytelling, fairy tales, and dream imagery—especially where they blur the line between internal and external worlds. I want to explore a series focused on women and animals as reflections of beauty, survival, and power. Eventually, I’d love to translate some of these ideas into sculptures—or maybe even books. There’s so much magic still waiting to be unearthed.