GEM YOU

When did you start making art? Tell us a little about your background.

I remember enjoying being creative as a kid in elementary school like any other kid I guess, until I go scolded for using different colors on a snake instead of a certain color-pattern. As a kid, my family and I would go on trips to Mexico in the Summer and Winter every year until my parents separated. My mom had a sister who was a seamstress and her husband. I was really fascinated by the big dresses they made, but of course I never brought it up because I thought that making dresses or sewing was not “a man-type of job”. My siblings and I would draw the cholo-esque drawings such “smile now cry later” and also Pokemon, but it never really stuck. Text was a huge interest around that time too, trying to mimic the gothic-style text. But when I really got interested in art was in middle school, until I found out the art teacher had favorites and didn’t really teach the fundamentals to art kids who weren’t the best draftspeople. I was also part of a poetry writing club at a different middle school since I hopped around as a kid due to my parents separation. Doubt was always a thing, so I never pursued until college after taking a photography course and that’s when it began after knowing about different photographers especially and most importantly Helmut Newton. It was still new to me because in my immediate family, art wasn’t a thing to choose for a career, and being first generation Mexican in an American world, the choices were doctor, lawyer, or business person (which I never equated being an artist to also being a business person then). And now, here I am, still battling those doubts, but trying my best to create.

What are the themes that you explore within your work?

It varies, I believe, but I touch a lot on trauma. I try to make work that can reflect on behavior and accountability. As a queer person of color I want to be able to re-create works that are predominately of white artists. I like to know the history behind certain things before applying them to my work. Intimacy is also explored, I enjoy viewers coming very close. With the social and political climate of today I try to intersect or make work that is genderless. Sexuality is also another theme I touch on and trying to define it for myself, to unlearn and relearn new and old sexual behaviors.

Tell us about your art making process.

It all happens in my head and with trial and error. I don’t have a particular way of making things because it involves different mediums. I do a lot of visual research before starting. I’m very meticulous and detail oriented, but often find myself creating happy accidents. Sometimes it’s spontaneous, other times more of a long process. My body is often used if needed. It sounds all over the place, but I don’t have a particular way of creating things.

What do you think it means to be an artist today that identifies with the vast LGBTQIA community?

I believe there’s a lot of LGBT+ art showing in the social media world versus in space galleries. With the pandemic right now, it’s a double-edge sword because there are amazing works and artists in this community that we aren’t able to see in person. I think there’s a lot to learn from other LGBT+ artists that makes the umbrella even bigger and especially for folks that are BIPOC. There’s still some steps to take to be included with cis-hetero spaces without being ridiculed. Past artists under the queer umbrella have shown their work in such spaces but there was always that “don’t ask, don’t tell” sort of policy because “it’ll damage your career”. But now with RuPaul’s DragRace and shows/movies including queer characters and stories it’s a little easier to take a dive than to just dip your toes.

How can we see more of your work? Instagram? Facebook? Website? Upcoming gallery shows?

Instagram: @thegemyou