Post 9: Maria Ramos

Artist Statement:

      

         As an artist, I view my art as a voyage of discovery and self-expression. I aim to capture the core of my essence through brushstrokes and vibrant hues to encourage self-reflection and establish bonds between myself and those who view my work. I love to explore the world of pop surrealism by utilizing mediums such as gouache, acrylic, and sometimes digital paint. Through vibrant colours and a touch of the bizarre, my goal is also to capture a sense of confusion, explore the "ugly," and make it distasteful yet enthralling. It is a compliment when someone calls an artwork of mine "weird" or "off-putting" because it brings a smile to my face, and I can sometimes create something baffling. I would love to create more of these types of pieces and use other mediums that I have yet to learn. Ever since I was a child, I have spent my time drawing, and it's a hobby that has never gone away. This hobby is an illustration degree I’m currently pursuing, and it is a dream of mine to see my little creations go out into the world. 

About Me:

My name is Maria Ramos and I’m a pop surrealist painter, and sometimes I am my own biggest inspiration, though gaming, music, and trips to art galleries spark my creativity. I love working with all sorts of mediums—gouache, soft pastels, acrylics, oils, and even digital programs. My paintings are a direct reflection of my emotional and mental state, so the themes can be pretty unpredictable. Painting is my escape; I get completely lost in each piece, and honestly, it's sometimes hard to let them go when I make a sale.

Post 9: Artist Statement + Bio- Samantha Castro

 Artist Statement

I am an artist who mostly works in painting and drawing. My work is rooted in personal narrative and cultural memory, exploring identity through vibrant, feminine, and tropical aesthetics. Rich with symbolism, texture, and color, my pieces often feature coquí frogs, Taíno symbols, family photographs, and botanical motifs. These elements are layered intentionally to reflect the complexity of identity, heritage, and memory.

As a Puerto Rican woman, my work centers on themes of cultural preservation, displacement, and belonging. I use self-portraiture as a tool of reflection and reclamation, examining how my identity is shaped by both personal experiences and historical forces. My process is intuitive and research-based. Blending historical references, family stories, and visual symbols that speak to a larger narrative of diaspora and resilience.

Inspired by artists like Frida Kahlo and Kiquita, whose work explores selfhood, emotion, and cultural symbolism. Like them, I use art as a way to process and express the parts of myself that don’t always have language. I am excited by the possibilities of expressing emotion, reclaiming culture, and discovering new parts of myself through my creative practice.

Through my work, wanting to confront the ongoing effects of colonialism, gentrification, and cultural fragmentation. Realities that have deeply impacted Puerto Rican communities both on and off the island. These tensions are present in the coquí frogs in my paintings that do not sing, representing the fragility of cultural connection and the quiet endurance of memory.

Ultimately, I want my art to create a space for reflection, recognition, and dialogue. Whether it's through a shared cultural reference or a feeling of emotional familiarity, I want viewers, especially fellow Boricuas, to feel seen. At the same time, my work offers others a window into the complexities of cultural identity and what it means to preserve, reclaim, and carry a lineage. My practice is an act of honoring, of preserving, and of reconnecting. Each piece is a small offering, part personal archive, part public conversation on what it means to belong, to remember, and to be.

Artist Bio

Samantha Castro is a New Jersey-based Puerto Rican artist currently pursuing a BFA in Fine Arts at New Jersey City University. Rooted in painting, her work explores themes of identity, cultural preservation, and belonging. Drawing inspiration from her heritage and personal experiences, she uses vibrant, feminine, and symbolic imagery—such as coquí frogs and Taíno motifs—to reflect on memory, displacement, and resilience. Her practice serves as a space for reflection, reconnection, and storytelling, inviting viewers to engage with questions of identity, migration, and home. Through her art, she aims to create connections and preserve cultural narratives across generations.