Today we’d like to introduce you to Serena Ramirez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I am an artist who was born and raised in El Paso, TX. My introduction to art came from my father, whom I would often visit and stay with on the weekends. I recall spending hours at a time listening to music and sitting next to him while he would draw or paint, and eventually having a canvas of my own to use and creating art together. He would share stories of his early pursuit in art, of how he entered—and even won a few—local art competitions, as well as the riskier aspects of his practice which involved graffiti on trains and abandoned buildings. Art became a way for me to not only express myself, but also connect my identity with my father; additionally, I have always been comforted in looking at the reasons I began this journey. I decided to take art more seriously after graduating high-school and pursued a BA at the University of Texas at El Paso. As I became older, my father struggled to find the time to continue making art—I’d like to think that part of the reason I’ve continued to pursue this passion is for him.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road, but I have felt that it has always been a supportive one. I feel privileged in saying that my family–though not all have always understood–have always been supportive of this journey. That being said, there have been a few times I have questioned my own decisions to pursue art as a career.
One of my ceramic mentors, Dina Perlasca, emphasized early on during my time as an undergrad that artists have to wear many hats; meaning that creatives have to not only consistently create new work but also document it, write about it, promote it/themselves, sell it, and network within the art community. As someone who is more introverted, sometimes all of these factors that come with making art can feel overwhelming, I am still learning to do a lot of these things as I go along. That being said, the stress that can accompany this path has always felt worth it if it means I get to follow my passions and meet fellow creatives.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work focuses on themes of identity and material memory, and I’ve had the opportunity to show in a number of exhibitions across Texas. Some highlights include the CAMEO Emerging Artist Exhibition at Lee College, 360: In Celebration of International Sculpture Day at Lá Mecha and Zephyr Contemporary, and Jack of All Trades at The Falstaff. I also recently had my first solo exhibition, Fragments, at UTEP’s Glass Gallery.
In 2023, I received Honorable Mention in Drawing at UTEP’s Annual Juried Student Exhibition, and in 2024, I was awarded the Anderson Ranch Scholarship. That same year, I presented at UTEP’s Art History Symposium on the topic of women in contemporary craft. Outside of my studio practice, I also had the pleasure of working as a Ceramics Teaching Assistant at UTEP,
I earned my BA from the University of Texas at El Paso with a concentration in Ceramics and a minor in Art History in December of 2024. This February, I was accepted at Southern Methodist University as an incoming MFA candidate for Fall of 2025. I have my family, mentors, friends and community to thank for getting me to this point. I hope to only continue growing as an artist in Dallas and refining my creative process.
Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
Growing up, I was more quiet, sensitive, and introverted. As a kid, I spent a lot of time playing with my younger sisters, ranging from Nintendo games to playing with barbies, or pretending to be mermaids. We were always encouraged to use our imaginations, so we were always able to keep ourselves entertained in our own little worlds. Outside of drawing, I was also very into reading books, a hobby I began at a very young age. I would spend any chance I could get with my head in a book, so much so that I even recall getting grounded from reading and getting in trouble at school for not following the lesson!
Thinking back to my childhood and adolescence, I believe that being more sensitive in nature and nurturing my imaginative side have led me to be a better artist today.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_serenaramirez/
Image Credits
Abram Cruz
