Bio
Petra Quiroz is an 18 year-old, Sephardi Jewish artist, who's work focuses on a personal journey of emotional vulnerability and health issues. After joining SAY Sí in 2018, her artistic growth has flourished and propelled her to find ways to tie in bright intense colors with an underlying message about identity that should feel 'yucky.' She always struggled with art and often was scared to find their voice for fear of it being 'less' than other artists'. With time, they've become more confident in their person by learning about their ethnicity, culture, and the importance of self-care. Facilitated by their love of art-making, Petra plans to attend The University of North Texas to receive a B.A. in Art History in order to learn about art from oppressed cultures and silenced narratives.
Artist Statement
Throughout my entire life I always thought my feelings were my fault. I felt that if I controlled everything, I wouldn't be seen as weak and I could be like everyone else. However, as I was diagnosed with invisible illnesses that affected my energy and caused symptoms such as anxiety and depersonalization, I realized I couldn't be like everyone else. Much like my feelings, some things I couldn't control and I couldn't blame myself. My blood pools, I have to have a certain diet and extreme heat causes me to pass out. I'm eternally tired. I also have a neurological condition called Visual Snow that makes me feel as if I'm out of my own body. I can't escape it, even when I close my eyes I'm haunted by graininess, flashing lights, and Palinopsia - among other visual issues. The combination of low tolerance to heat and bright light sometimes leaves me with a terrible feeling when something as simple as moving takes all my energy. My digital pieces focus on the emotional and visual toll of living in a body where you feel you are on the cusp of being non-functional; Where something as simple as talking needs time to process and moving from one place to another isn't second nature.
