“VANITAS EN LUZ” by Katherine Martínez

“ My studio is a living still life, a quiet symphony of objects that whisper their own stories and reflect mine. I carefully arrange them so the sun dances across each one, bringing every corner to life as the day unfolds. In this scene, the rich textiles of my motherland Peru cradle a coyote skull found in Texas where I was born. Nearby, books overflow with inspiring paintings and life stories. In the distant background, the carved design of a vintage letter sorter, sourced right here in Missouri where I now reside. It has now been repurposed to hold my tools of the trade—paintbrushes.” -Katherine Martínez