My work examines the female experience through the intersections of femininity, religion, and political power. My art has been recognized for its boldly feminist perspective, openly questioning societal expectations while drawing from personal experiences, particularly my upbringing in the Catholic Church with a Latina mother.
The vessel is a central motif in my practice, especially the image of the Virgin Mary, the ultimate vessel. My religious upbringing made her a dominant presence in my home, her likeness displayed on small laminated cards, tall glass prayer candles, and altars. She was the Mother we prayed to, seeking her guidance and forgiveness. Through my work, I examine the Virgin Mary’s humanity, her pain, and her role as a mother, moving beyond reverence to consider her suffering and sacrifice.
I frequently incorporate botanical and female forms as catalysts, recognizing their shared symbolism of fertility, beauty, and life. Yet my pieces are not pristine; curled edges, deliberate punctures, and patina finishes convey history, resilience, and imperfection. I am particularly interested in the cultural silencing of women’s suffering and the stigma surrounding the female form, especially in relation to reproductive health. My work critiques the entangled relationship between politics and religion, examining how these forces shape women’s societal roles and bodily autonomy. By confronting these issues directly, I hope my work serves as a vehicle for dialogue, challenging preconceived notions of beauty, motherhood, and power.
The vessel is a central motif in my practice, especially the image of the Virgin Mary, the ultimate vessel. My religious upbringing made her a dominant presence in my home, her likeness displayed on small laminated cards, tall glass prayer candles, and altars. She was the Mother we prayed to, seeking her guidance and forgiveness. Through my work, I examine the Virgin Mary’s humanity, her pain, and her role as a mother, moving beyond reverence to consider her suffering and sacrifice.
I frequently incorporate botanical and female forms as catalysts, recognizing their shared symbolism of fertility, beauty, and life. Yet my pieces are not pristine; curled edges, deliberate punctures, and patina finishes convey history, resilience, and imperfection. I am particularly interested in the cultural silencing of women’s suffering and the stigma surrounding the female form, especially in relation to reproductive health. My work critiques the entangled relationship between politics and religion, examining how these forces shape women’s societal roles and bodily autonomy. By confronting these issues directly, I hope my work serves as a vehicle for dialogue, challenging preconceived notions of beauty, motherhood, and power.
*If interested in purchasing a piece of art, please contact Tanya Kaiser.
Saints and Mothers
Crystallized Innocence: The Fragility of Childhood in a Consuming World
This body of work explores the intersection of vulnerability and transformation, using materials that evoke both preservation and decay. The sculpture, whether it is a baby’s onesie or other comfort items encrusted with sugar crystals, serves as a meditation on the fragility of childhood in a world that often fails to protect its most vulnerable.
The onesie, soft and intimate, is a symbol of protection. As it becomes encased in sugar, a substance that represents both sweetness and entrapment, the fabric is gradually overwhelmed. The growing crystals transform it into something rigid and untouchable. This process mirrors how external forces, predatory influences, unchecked dangers, and systemic neglect, encroach upon the innocence of our children, hardening them before they have the chance to fully grow.
At first glance, the piece sparkles with an almost ethereal beauty. Yet beneath its surface lies an unsettling reality. Children are left exposed in a society that too often prioritizes convenience over care and reaction over prevention. Without stronger protective measures, innocence becomes something fleeting, something easily consumed.
The onesie, soft and intimate, is a symbol of protection. As it becomes encased in sugar, a substance that represents both sweetness and entrapment, the fabric is gradually overwhelmed. The growing crystals transform it into something rigid and untouchable. This process mirrors how external forces, predatory influences, unchecked dangers, and systemic neglect, encroach upon the innocence of our children, hardening them before they have the chance to fully grow.
At first glance, the piece sparkles with an almost ethereal beauty. Yet beneath its surface lies an unsettling reality. Children are left exposed in a society that too often prioritizes convenience over care and reaction over prevention. Without stronger protective measures, innocence becomes something fleeting, something easily consumed.
Ceramic Figures
Working across multiple clay bodies, I experiment with their textures and properties. Each piece is finished with a thoughtful combination of stains and glazes, creating surfaces that highlight form, depth, and subtle nuances in color.
She is The Vessel
She is the Vessel references both the Virgin Mary and the ways legislation continues to seek to reduce women to mere containers. I use a burnout method, dipping combustible materials, like lace, into clay slip and layering them to build each form. My vessel shapes range from teapots and teacups to bowls and more, exploring the tension between function, form, and metaphor.
Mixed Media Works
I treat plaster, cement, and burlap as sculptural canvases, layering surfaces and playing with texture and subtle color. These forms exist somewhere between painting and sculpture, inviting a tactile and visual dialogue that challenges traditional boundaries of material and medium.
Botanicals
These ceramic works combine multiple clay bodies and finishes to explore forms inspired by nature. I manipulate scale and shape to abstract and deform, creating pieces that balance recognition with reinterpretation, highlighting both materiality and the organic qualities of the natural world.
