Tell us a little about yourself — how did you get started in art, and what’s your connection to Chattanooga?
I was born in Puerto Rico and raised in the Bronx, New York, and art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I moved to Chattanooga when I was 16 and attended Collegedale Academy, so many of my formative years happened here. After high school, I lived in Chattanooga for several years before going to college in Alabama and eventually moving to Atlanta to continue building my career as an artist.
Even after moving to Atlanta, Chattanooga has always remained a big part of my life. Most of my family lives here, and over the past few years I’ve split my time between Chattanooga and Atlanta. I also had the opportunity to open an art gallery in Chattanooga, where I showcased both local Chattanooga artists and artists from Atlanta. I’ve always seen Chattanooga as a city with an incredible creative community, so being able to contribute to that and now create a permanent public artwork here feels especially meaningful.
Having the opportunity to create the Erlanger Park gates feels very personal and, in many ways, brings my journey with the city full circle.
