Artist Statement

Camila’s work deals with the many aspects of  her  identity, from what is prescribed by society and  her family, and that which is created by her own experiences. Growing up as an immigrant in the United States created a disconnect with her family and their past, photographs became an important part of generating an identity that joined both memory and documentation. Painting portraits of herself as a child has created a space in which Camila can reconnect with a past that seems very far removed from who she has become. 

For Camila’s painting practice, it is vital for her to be able to work on several paintings at the same time, as it helps her jump back and forth between lighter and heavier subjects. Her work deals with familial love and trauma, emotional abuse and body dysmorphia and dysphoria, so taking breaks is an important part of her practice. Her paintings work as a way to reckon with the past, and come to terms with how it  has influenced how she views herself.

Primarily working in Oils, the drying time between each session has allowed Camila to express herself in experimental ways. Each painting she creates develops a life of its own in how she paints them and how she conveys the meaning behind them. Working from photographs creates a freedom that Camila exploits through the ability of walking away for days to weeks at a time to process what emotions the paintings arise.