Macy Contreras
Artist Statement
From youth I was always intrigued by the arts, from pen and paper to performance to short videos, and knew it was something I was meant to pursue. Of course, this did not come without hardships, losing people along the way and to a point even myself. However, these hardships only pushed me to become an even better version of myself, someone who doesn’t shy away from a challenge and is always open to new opportunities. Now, more than ever, I embrace change and I embrace my identity as Xicane designer in this new generation of extraordinarily talented artists, designers, and directors.
After some time honing my skills I was influenced by various outlets from various time periods. I was particularly influenced by Chinese, Japanese, Korean art styles as a child while being exposed to African American Hip Hop culture of the 90s. I was heavily influenced by 90s Chicano and Tejano culture and I believe that perspective influences my work the most. The Chicano influence can be especially seen in recent works while other works tend to experiment with various other influences from my childhood and modern trends. Nostalgia is something that brings a smile and is my favorite to explore, it makes an impact on people, speaks to them, and documents history.
My main aspiration as a Graphic Designer is to inspire and make an impact on the new generation while also learning new things along the way. I want to be able to learn from other cultures and educate others on my own along with spreading awareness on topics important to me. I will continue to work hard and appreciate those who support me and my endeavors. I put every bit of myself into my work and I am proud of where I am and where I will go in the future.
