Today we’d like to introduce you to Mikey.
Hi Mikey, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am a Texas-based artist currently living in Irving. My creative journey began in the world of performance as both a musician and colorguard performer. Over two decades, I developed a deep visual language as a colorguard designer and choreographer, using motion, color, and spatial composition to tell stories and evoke emotion. This early foundation in performance art laid the groundwork for my transition into the visual arts.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Finding my path to visual art came later in life. I often wonder what life might have been like had I taken that leap earlier, but I also believe things unfold in the order they are meant to. One experience leads to another. There was a great deal of grounding I needed to do, both spiritually and emotionally, and that is where much of the struggle existed.
All of these experiences, including my performance history and life journey, inform the subjectivity of my artwork today. I could speak about machismo and hypermasculine traits I adopted as a teenager, or about growing up as a Hispanic kid who felt scared, closeted, insecure, and disconnected from his own identity. That list could go on. However, I don’t want to dwell on the past or its chaos… that is where I want to leave it: in the past.
Instead, I want to look forward and focus on cultivating self-respect and self-love. What I can say is that it is difficult for anyone to see beyond chaos. Yet my experiences have taught me how to look through it and find grounding in life. Chaos will always exist, but how we move through and past it is what allows us to find balance and peace.
My artwork reflects this process as a whole. I have identified life practices that no longer serve me and replaced them with mindfulness practices such as meditation and yoga. This transformation translates directly into my work. When I speak with people about it, I sense a genuine connection. I feel that the work resonates with others, reminding them to seek self-love and self-respect in their own lives.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Q: What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc.
A: I make large scale non-representational work on paper using mixed media.
I make large-scale, non-representational, abstract works on paper created through a process-driven approach that explores the dynamic interplay between wet and dry media. My work explores the concept of mindfulness through mind-body positive practices such as meditation, yoga, tai chi, and problem-solving techniques that support self-reflection, healing, and personal growth. Ultimately, these paintings become enigmatic landscapes which often resemble cosmic or topographical spaces that blur the line between the micro and the macro. They serve as visual meditations on chaos and order, groundedness and wonder. In a world that often feels overwhelming, each piece is a personal reminder of my search for inner peace, balance, and meaning in both life and the universe.
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: I am proud of earning my MFA degree and of the artist I have become as a result. While earning my degree, I was able to formulate a technical process that works for me and the subjectivity of my work. This process continues to evolve beyond my expectations, allowing my work to grow with greater clarity, depth, and intention.
Q: What sets you apart from others?
A: What sets me apart is that I bring my authentic self to the table. No one else can speak from my voice or from my lived experience. I have found my place, and from that grounded position, I am able to share my personal perspective with clarity and intention.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
My mother has been my biggest cheerleader throughout my life. She consistently reminds me to strive for my best and to give my best in everything I do. I am also deeply grateful to my former colorguard directors, former students, future students and the art departments at Dallas College and the University of Dallas for their support in countless ways, both technical and emotional.
Above all, the person who deserves the greatest recognition is my husband, Jason. He has been my constant support and my biggest cheerleader every step of the way. His love, support and encouragement goes far beyond words.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mikeyhernandez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikeyhernandezartist/
- Other: https://bsky.app/profile/mikeyhernandezart.bsky.social
