My paintings reflect how I find myself between two worlds. In recent years, my ancestors’ faces have appeared in my work, sometimes subtly and other times boldly. They speak to me. They encourage me to respect nature, and when I am feeling stressed about life in our world today, my ancestors give me comfort.
Connecting to ancestral voices is important, especially as a refugee who fled Nicaragua during a civil war in the 1980s. Facing repression and violence as a young gay man, I came to the United States to build a life where I have the freedom to express who I am.
During this past year, my creative spirits have been encouraging me to focus on the natural world, celebrating our connections to beauty. For example, in some of my paintings, I discovered how a human torso takes the shape of a tree trunk, reflecting the connection we share. Trees sustain us, giving us fruit, clean air, and beauty to keep us alive!
As I paint, I create windows to other worlds. They help me see the gifts we receive from the natural world. These windows reveal mountains, volcanoes, and lakes. Through them, light from the sun and moon glows. The natural world dances in my work, reminding us that we are all interconnected.
Acrylic is the medium I use to paint on canvas, and it gives me the freedom to create complex, playful layers. If you look closely, you will see many layers of images where faces and other imagery start to present themselves. This water-based paint allows me to layer images in complex techniques but appear simpler to the viewer. This layering reflects my emotional state as I paint.
The darker colors represent how I hid my own identity in the past. They represent my emotions and feelings. They convey the sadness of being forced to hide the real me.
Bright colors are also part of my story, bridging my life between worlds. I also want my art to express a sense of harmony and peace within. The color (the breaking of the darkness) reflects my happiness and self-acceptance.
As I paint, I create windows to other worlds. The small circles, squares, and other geometric forms represent a universal, unspoken language. They reflect peace and harmony.
– Reynaldo Díaz, May 2025
