Una Rosa en El Barrio

Gold Leaf, Oil, and Spray Paint on Round Canvas 

20 x 20
Pink glows in Black Light

Series: El Barrio - A Love Letter to Nuyoricans

My mother grew up around Spanish Harlem and it's where my Abuela still resides. Growing up, the street art and the culture of the neighborhood always surrounded me and inspire me to this day. The series showcases images of Nuyoricans in the 70s-80s in El Barrio. Iconic images to me such as the girls in their rollers, the boys playing by the fire hydrant, the men playing dominoes, puff jackets, and the popsicles from the bodega.

The circle represents the 6 train that I would take to visit my Abuela. The Tiffany blue is a nod to my name. The oxidized gold foil shows the financial separation in NYC and the gentrification of El Barrio. The vibrant outline is the pulse of the people.