I’ve traveled multiple times to Mexico, and the vibrant landscape, deep sense of culture, and energetic lifestyle has opened a whole new world in my art and sense of self!

Let me share a glimpse into Mexico’s beautiful land, culture, and art, plus my own revelations about cultural heritage.

Traveling in Mexico
1. The Stunning Oaxacan Landscape
A Snapshot of Mexican Art
Living in Connection to the Land
1. Contemporary Mexican Artists
Seeking my Own Heritage and Homeland

Traveling in Mexico

I first had the opportunity to travel to Mexico in 2017 when I secured a place at the First Food Residency in Oaxaca, a state in the southwest of Mexico. I spent 2 months at my residency and did a bit of traveling on either side of that. What I love about Mexico is the energy! There’s such vibrancy in life and culture, in the plants and the scale of landscape, and even in the quality of the light. My travels ignited a passion and a whole new phase of my art!

The Stunning Oaxacan Landscape

I spent 2-3 months each year in Mexico for 3 years following my residency, and I miss it now. I was able to travel a lot within the state of Oaxaca. There are so many sub-climates just outside the city – high sierra, desert, forests, mountains, the Pacific coast, and tropical beaches. What a huge variety of flora and fauna! One of my absolute favorite things was to spend time in the different landscapes drawing and getting a sense of the great diversity of life. There’s a beautiful ethno-botanical garden in Oaxaca. I wasn’t able to draw there, but I could peek in and draw from outside.

A Snapshot of Mexican art

Art in Mexico has a long history and is richly diverse in its use of materials. You can find stunning pottery, textile arts, paper mache sculptures, murals, and folk arts – like the famous Day of the Dead carvings! During the 300 years of Spanish rule, art was more limited to religious themes and heavily dominated by the European style. But after the Mexican revolution, indigenous practices were revived and celebrated! Like the landscapes of Mexico itself, their art shines with great vibrance and bold colors.

Living in Connection with the Land

I can’t name one specific piece of Mexican art that most inspired me. It was more the whole culture and the energy of their everyday life that impacted me! It’s so creative compared to the feel of Europe or England. Everything is more saturated, like the volume has been turned up on everything – brighter, louder, more extreme. I’m drawn to that kind of space.

The beautiful thing about Oaxaca is the strong indigenous roots and traditions which still imbue everyday life there. I was really drawn to this sense of belonging and the practice of being totally intertwined with nature. The people live as part of their landscape. I had a sense I was going back to the basics - the essence of what it is to live a beautiful life.

Oaxaca wasn’t colonized by the Spanish and they have such a sense of pride in their culture and where they come from. Their sense of self is linked to their landscape, culture, and community. They have different ways of operating from the West, like making decisions as communities. I realized there are different ways of existing that are more in tune with the land, emphasizing kindness and unity rather than centering around a patriarchal, dominating force.

Contemporary Mexican Artists

The Mexican artists I met and worked with in the residency were greatly inspiring in terms of the subject matter they used. Their art is so influenced by the life and landscape around them, and this mentality impacted my woodworking collection which I created at the studio within the Condigo Tonal Gallery in Oaxaca. They feature the work of many incredible local artists, whose connection to their heritage remains an ongoing source of inspiration for me.

Seeking my Own Heritage and Homeland

The lifestyle in Oaxaca touched me deeply, but I also experienced a sense of grief from not feeling a connection to the landscape or indigenous roots of my own culture. This realization spurred me to research my ancestral roots, which are largely Celtic. Perhaps by learning more about my heritage and finding a link to the land and landscape of my origins, I can deepen my own creative process and bring that same feeling of connectedness into my own art.

Have you had a chance to travel the world? I hope my art can transport you to Mexico, giving you a little glimpse into the vibrant life and unforgettable culture of Oaxaca!