The three that move me the most are Romanticism, Symbolism, and the Taíno Movement. Each one influences different parts of my practice and mindset.
Romanticism inspires me through its aesthetic, use of imagination, immersion in nature, and its fascination with the sublime. One of my favorite works from this movement is The Roses of Heliogabalus by Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema. Though I’ve never seen it in person as it's in a private collection (boo), the big scale and lush detail of this oil painting feels so immersive, like I could walk right into it and be overwhelmed by the smell of roses. The original reference for the painting is described by this “In a banqueting room with a reversible ceiling he once buried his guests in violets and other flowers, so that some were actually smothered to death, being unable to crawl out to the top” which I love because it a symbolism of indulgence. I’m especially drawn to how this piece blends beauty and morbidity to create a sense of awe. In comparison, one of my own works a 60 x 40-inch charcoal drawing of my dogs in a natural setting shares a sense of drama and reverence for the natural world. Both works are large in scale, and both emphasize dynamic composition and mood, creating an emotional connection through space and nature.
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| Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema, The Roses of Heliogabalus, 1888, oil |
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| Stroll, Samantha Castro, charcoal, 2024 |
Symbolism is another movement that inspires me, particularly because of its focus on personal meaning and expressive storytelling. Frida Kahlo, one of my favorite artists, created intensely symbolic work during this era. Her painting The Wounded Deer uses the image of a deer pierced by arrows to represent her own physical and emotional pain, as well as the lack of control she felt over her own destiny. I connect with this concept, and in my own mixed media collage piece, I layered symbols to express childhood, escapism, heritage, protection, and innocence. Like the Symbolists, I enjoy embedding easter eggs into my work subtle details that offer more meaning if the viewer chooses to look closely.
The Wounded Deer, Frida Kahlo, oil on masonite, 1946
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| Rooted In Protection, Samantha Castro, Mix media,2024 |
The Taíno movement of the 1960s–70s is personally meaningful because it speaks to my Puerto Rican heritage and the desire to reclaim Indigenous identity. Artists like Nitza Tufiño used Taíno imagery in powerful and contemporary ways. In her painting Pareja Taína (Taíno Couple), she forms the figures of a couple using Taíno iconography. What fascinates me is how she intertwines cultural preservation with the events that were happening. The female figure’s mask recalls the gas masks from the Vietnam War era, adding layers of meaning about survival and resistance. In my own work, I also use Taíno symbols in portraits, drawing on my ancestry and personal experience. This movement inspires me to honor and uplift my roots, and to make space for Indigenous visibility in my work.
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| Nitza Tufiño, Pareja taino (Taino Couple), 1972, acrylic, charcoal, |
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| Blooming in Borikén, Samantha Castro, oil, 2024 |
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