Julie Valdez, Famous, 2D linoleum print, 4x6in., $45
This piece is inspired by how flamboyant and dramatic of child I was. I loved glamour and sparkles and all things pink. The tulips are meant to represent sensitivity to parallel and provide duality to the hot pink.

Artist Statement
My prints are representations of my identity and experiences as a queer woman of color. The use of vivid colors and contrast is a way to draw viewers in and put emphasis on the themes I am exploring. Using magenta in my work is meant to symbolize my inner child and me at my best.

The visuals of tulips, barbed wire, and scorpions are meant to represent my sensitivity, grit, and where my family is from in Durango, Mexico. The use of figs and birds are meant to be a metaphor for indecisiveness.

All my prints are carved from linoleum blocks and hand pressed onto printmaking paper. I use block ink, rollers to roll out the color, and a paintbrush to touch up.