We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kissbell Preza. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kissbell below.

Alright, Kissbell thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. One of our favorite things to hear about is stories around the nicest thing someone has done for someone else – what’s the nicest thing someone has ever done for you?

The kindest thing anyone has ever done was holding space for me. I grow up in a dysfunctional home. I never felt supported by the people who were supposed to protect me. I had a partner who held space for me. Granted he was flawed but he would defend me from my family members and always let me be vulnerable when needed. I was always a strong person. However, he helped me become stronger. When I was abused at home, he would always try to pick me up. He would feed me when I was hungry which was most days. Eventually, I became stronger and started branching out more than he wanted. He didn’t like that and we went our separate ways. I appreciate the love and support he gave me. He was my sun and I would have enjoyed orbiting around him. Even though I wanted to stay it was clear that I couldn’t and had to become my own sun. I don’t regret becoming my own sun. I’m happier now because of it.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I’m an artist based in East LA. I’m first generation U.S. Citizen. I’m the daughter of a Guatemalan mother and a Salvadoran father. I identify as an Indigenous woman (maya-pipil). I was raised in East LA/ Chicanx community which was difficult because I sometimes couldn’t relate to Chicanx due to being from different Latin American cultures. I grew up in a religion called Lucumí (Regla de Ocha, Regla Lucumí, Santería).

My artworks are cathartic, magical realism, surrealism, expressionism, post-impressionism, and mixed media. My inspiration for my work is the intergenerational cycles of culture and family, cultural anthropology, criminology, and psychology.

I interpret my interests through a canvas. I utilize various forms of mixed media such as hair, cowry shells, threads, or ceramic pieces. The thematic content of my work is to reach self-understanding through my intersectionality and expression in my art. I also promote the importance of mental health awareness.

I don’t think, I’m different from the rest of my fellow artists. We all try to express ourselves in different forms through art. However, the thing that most people tell me is that my art reminds them of Frida Kahlo. The main thing I want people to know is that I never intended for my art to remind them of Frida. I just want to express what I’ve studied and learned from education through my art. What I’m most proud of is being me.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The mission driving my creative journey is to reach self-understanding about my intersectionality and how I interact with society. My artworks are my journal entries.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The rewarding aspect of being an artist is that I get to have the opportunity to express myself artistically. Many people choose to stop creating to make ends meet. Art is part of me. If I stop creating, a part of me dies.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: art_is_my_religion_
• Other: Tik Tok: art_is_my_religion_

Image Credits

@you1.4
Jose Molina @_mister.poe_
@piersidephotos
Justin Robinson @cat_daddy_j
Kissbell Preza