BIO
Amaya Lounibos Hartard is a Chilean-American artist from and living in the Bay Area, California. She is currently in school working towards a BFA in printmaking at CSU Long Beach. In addition to this, she is a member of the California Printmaker’s Association. Using printmaking and painting techniques, her work captures her experience as a queer, biracial woman. Amaya explores themes of home, childhood, identity, family and discomfort through her repetitive use of double self portraiture. In her work, Amaya aims to make space for people who are under-represented in fine art spaces and make art accessible to the public. In April 2024, Amaya hosted her first solo show, “Chilenita y Gringa” at Slough City Gallery. Following that, in June 2024, Amaya curated her first group show, "Liberation!", celebrating queer people and voices. Outside of art, Amaya has secret talents in whistling and playing the trombone.
STATEMENT
Artists are at the forefront of calling the public to attention, starting conversations and leading protests that lead to change. Art can connect to the public in a way that transcends all barriers, by uniting people through emotions, regardless of background, class, gender or race. Growing up, I didn’t know what “biracial” or being biracial really meant. As a kid you just assume “oh, I’m half of this! And half of that!”, and as simple as that sounds, it really means so much more. It’s always jumping between two cultures, countries, languages and identities, and ultimately, accepting that you won’t be accepted anywhere. Using different processes, specifically painting and printmaking, I make work about my experience as a queer biracial woman, through the repetitive use of double self portraiture, representing two sides of my identity. In my work, I explore themes of home and what that means/looks like, identity, womanhood, family and discomfort. What makes Home, home? Where is Home? Who is Home? And how does Home, and ultimately identity, transform?
