Art by Yasmín Wisecarver

Having grown up bilingual and bicultural, I am constantly trying to define myself as both an American and a Latin American artist. My quest for balance and identity is expressed in the way I strive to create artwork that tells a story through the coexistence and balance of contrasting, or contradictory, visual elements. These visual elements are expressed though color, stark shadows, and the use of both organic and geometric forms. Even though my work always begins with a specific idea, I allow myself to improvise and change, doing what is necessary for each piece to find its voice.

I am inspired by Alberto Giacometti and Roberto Matta. Both of these artists successfully created art that not only expressed their personal view of the world, but also revealed an acute awareness of social and political issues of their time. I also admire the Salvadoran artists Raúl Elas Reyes and Salvador Salazar Arrué, whose works successfully represent different aspects of Salvadoran culture and landscape, capturing essential parts of Salvadoran identity.