Artist: Crystal Gonzalez Callison
Artist Bio: Crystal Gonzalez Callison is a Utah-based, Texas-native Mexican-American interdisciplinary artist and mother of six, including children with disabilities. She began creating art in her mid-30s as a way to process her experiences, particularly grief and loss, following her father’s passing.
Her work dives into themes of identity, grief, loss, motherhood, family, and heritage as she learns more about herself, her family history, and her culture. As a first-generation Mexican-American, she has felt the weight of cultural disconnect as she navigates a life between two worlds and aims to bridge that gap through her art by visually exploring the contrast between what was lost, what has been preserved, and what she is now trying to reclaim.
Through this reflection, she hopes to understand her place in the world and share that journey with others.
Title: Morena Empedrada / Empowered Brown-Skinned Woman
Medium: Oil on canvas
Unframed Dimensions: 20 ½ x 23 ½ inches
Framed Dimensions: 22 ½ x 25 ½ inches
Price: $4600
Artist Statement: "Morena Empoderada / Empowered Brown-Skinned Woman" is a self-portrait that embodies the confident, empowered version of myself that I am continuously becoming. It represents my ongoing journey of self-discovery and the embrace of my Mexican-American identity, allowing me to reclaim the strength and pride that were once lost or overlooked. "Morena Empoderada" stands as a reminder that the storms I have faced of doubt, cultural disconnect, identity, and expectations as a Mexican American, as a mother, and as an artist have made me stronger. I am not afraid of the storm, because it helped me become who I am today.
