Fall 2024 Cohort

Pictured from left to right: Scott Azevedo, Odette-Chavez-Mayo, Miguel Mendoza

Scott Azevedo - This work straddles a fine line between two dreams. It reflects disorientation between assimilation and indigenous heritage. Simultaneously rejecting and embracing both ideas. It visually projects an understanding that identity is fluid, just as everything is ever-changing, yet it is held back by a traditional societal hierarchy. There is solace in this unknown, a sensitivity that transcends specific place or experience.

Odette Chavez-Mayo - As a child, I left my homeland and everyone I loved behind. Since then, my life has been marked by constant changes, challenges, and an incessant yearning for something I can’t quite name. Photography became a means of preserving fleeting moments and sustaining connections with the people and places I cherish. It’s how I navigate the intricacies of my existence, exploring themes of memory, identity, and belonging. The images I create are imbued with a sense of nostalgia and longing, capturing the beauty and complexity of everyday life.
Central to my photographic practice is working with processes that take time. I use film and enjoy the physicality of making pictures come to life by laboring in the dark. Allured by the act of forgetting and remembering, I abandon my images so that they can marinate in time, waiting to be discovered with the promise of a distant perspective. This dynamic mirrors my relationship with Mexico, my homeland, a place of profound significance and continual inspiration.
My photographs serve as fragments of memory, bridging past and present, life and loss. They aspire to transcend being mere images and become vessels of emotion that offer glimpses into the depths of my personal experiences and the enduring power of connection.

Miguel Mendoza - My artistic practice encompasses a variety of techniques, ranging from graphite on paper to gouache and acrylic on canvas, where I explore a vibrant and expansive color palette. Through my work, I aim to capture the essence of magical realism, particularly evident in my gouache and acrylic pieces, which reflect the rich tapestry of my cultural heritage, rooted in the traditions and warmth of Oaxaca, México, and extending beyond its borders. In my oil paintings, predominantly portraits, I seek to celebrate the inherent beauty of Hispanic women. Each portrait—whether of my partner, friends, niece, or coworkers— serves as a testament to the resilience and perseverance of those who navigate the complexities of life in this country. It is my belief that their unique stories and Hispanic beauty deserve recognition within the hallowed halls of art galleries, spaces that sometimes feel exclusive and distant.
By depicting portraits from diverse backgrounds and nations, I endeavor to underscore the profound diversity of human features found across our planet. While our appearances may vary based on geography and culture, we all share the same fundamental rights and privileges, irrespective of the nuances of our facial characteristics. Through my art, I invite viewers to explore the rich tapestry of human existence, fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation for the shared threads that connect us all, regardless of our cultural backgrounds or geographical locations.