We recently connected with Cora Quiroz and have shared our conversation below.
Cora, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.
The most meaningful project I have worked on so far is my solo exhibition, ‘Deliberate’. Usually solo shows are a huge milestone in an artist’s career, and somehow I have accomplished one at the age of 22. The exhibition is an autobiography series of work that is q tribute to my family, and my journey as an ex- Jehovah Witness.
Cora, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Im context of being an artist I am creative, but I believe creativity is something that can be applied to every part of life. It is problem solving in unexpected ways. In common ways of creativity I am a painter, muralist, graphic designer, welder, jewelry maker, and so on. I find myself often learning other trades but always coming back to painting. I do enjoy working on my on works, but I also offer creative problem solving services to clients whether that is creating the perfect logo for someone’s business, painting a design the client has imagined and bringing it to life, or finding the perfect painting to complete their home. I am most proud of how much passion and care I put into the small details. At a young age I have decided I wanted to devote my life to art, and every decision I make it based around it. Anyone who works with me knows I will put every ounce of energy I have into creating something they will love as well. Regarding my paintings, viewers will find that state of mind in my personal work. This is my passion, and I create every painting to be very personal and vulnerable to who I am. In many ways others will relate to the vulnerability.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
The main goal of my work is to better understand myself. Many people will journal or meditate to learn more about who they are. Due to growing up as a Jehovah Witness, I was taught to reject many parts of my identity and who I was. After being disfellowshipped, I have found everyday I am learning more about who I am and that it is okay to be proud of my cultural roots, being a woman, and being bisexual. Each painting begins with meditating and journaling, often talking about a subject that arises, perhaps the feelings I get during holidays or thinking about my tendencies to sometimes reject my sexuality. I slowly find imagery to support these ideas to create a painting. During the process of painting I am still talking to myself and in a way in a meditative state, thinking about who I am.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?
The most rewarding aspect of being an artist, is connecting with others. Due to the vulnerable nature of my work, it can be very nerve wracking to put these intimate and almost secret moments of my life on the wall for display. Ontop of the vulnerability, for most of my life I have felt a deep feeling of displacement and loneliness. Since I didn’t fit in with my peers at school because of my religion and ethnicity, I felt very alone. Then because of my religion I also felt like I did not fit in because I was bisexual and also because of my ethnicity. When I moved to Phoenix during the pandemic, it felt like an extension of the loneliness. So every time someone approaches me, saying they were shunned for being gay, or they felt out of place, or they are still learning about themselves because they were in an evangelical religion, I find joy with the connection they feel with my work. I want my paintings to create kinship with others who have felt displacement.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.onicora.com
- Instagram: oni.cora
- Facebook: Oni Girl Art
- Linkedin: Cora Talkington- Quiroz
- Other: Tik tok- oni.cora
Image Credits
For the personal photo, here is the credits Photographer: KBR @kbrofficial Agency: Contagion Media @contagionmedia