Check out Catrina Esperanza Mendoza’s Artwork

Today we’d like to introduce you to Catrina Esperanza Mendoza.

Catrina, we’d love to hear your story and how you got to where you are today both personally and as an artist.
Grew up in the South Bay in the city of San Pedro. Childhood had its ups and downs. My mom struggled to raise two kids by herself (my older sister and I) while trying to keep two jobs, getting her AA, and making sure we had food on the table. I know it was the hardest thing she had to do in her early 20s, and I can never thank her enough for her sacrifices. At a young age, people came in and out of my life fairly easily, and the only stable thing I ever had growing up was drawing and music. I could always escape from the yelling, the police sirens, and just the craziness of living on 11th and Mesa in the 90s, by just grabbing some crayons and paper while putting on CDs in my mom’s stereo system.

Listened to a lot of funk, hip-hop, and R&B growing up, but also classic rock (especially Led Zeppelin), indie rock, and metal later on. Music was always there for me to inspire me to get in my zone and draw. When my stepdad came around, he expanded my knowledge of music, but especially rap. He showed me a lot of West Coast artists, like NWA, Tupac, Snoop Dogg, The DOC, Ice Cube; he loves Ice Cube. He also wanted to become a rapper. That was his big dream and even remembered trying to draw a logo for him when I was little. I think he really inspired me to pursue those creative dreams and has always supported me.

Making art and listening to music were always something that went hand and hand for me. It was my only escape coming from school while some kids would bully me for looking like a “tomboy.” I was outcasted a lot from my peers, because of the “boyish” things that I liked, but that is what also made me who I am today. The hardest thing that I couldn’t accept for a long time was not caring about what people thought about me. I thought I was wrong and had to change myself. But when you’re young, you just want to fit in. Wish I could tell my younger self that things do get better, and it’s okay to like what you like, fuck everyone else.

We’d love to hear more about your art. What do you do and why and what do you hope others will take away from your work?
Using collage, digital media, painting, and photography, I paint sound waves digitally to create the sense of sound, while playing with colors for sight and use images of human anatomy to render touch and taste. I try to create visual relationships between objects that, in reality, should not be assembled together to create other possibilities. Music is what leads me to create these psychedelic images. Currently, artists such as Flying Lotus, Thundercat, Tame Impala, and so much more have been the inspiration for my artwork. Artists like these have helped me escape to another world figuratively, and physically try to create that world on digital or canvas format. This is the only way I know how to cope with things, by creating art and listening to music.

Have things improved for artists? What should cities do to empower artists?
I think in a lot of ways, things have improved for artists. When it comes to social media, you can easily get your art out there and gain a momentum. But social media can be a negative thing and sometimes that can hinder you creatively, because of the “likes” and “follows,” aren’t enough. I always just say keep creating content no matter what. And cities just need to support the local art/artists that they see. Have more art walks, have free art shows (where local artists can show), have more murals in the city. Any opportunity to show, I always try to take it.

Do you have any events or exhibitions coming up? Where would one go to see more of your work? How can people support you and your artwork?
Following me on Instagram @catrina.esperanza is a great way to be updated on exhibitions and events, while I build my website. Soon to come.

Contact Info:

• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/catrina.esperanza/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100014458694393

Image Credit:
Catrina Esperanza Mendoza

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