HANИAH Paz-Westbrook (she/they) is a queer Xicana multimedia artist based in Albuquerque, NM. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting at Herron School of Art + Design in Indianapolis. HANИAH has exhibited at institutions such as Berkshire, Reese & Paul Galleries, the Indianapolis Art Center, OneAmerica, Indiana Convention Center, Harrison Art Center, among others. Her work is part of the permanent collections of the Eskenazi Health Foundation, and Gregory & Appel. In 2021 Hannah co-founded ONE DROP, an art collective that promotes and exhibits artists of color across the globe. Currently in her work, she is exploring the combination of painting, textiles, video projection, and the politics of identity and place.
Artist Statement
As a multi-hyphenated artist, I navigate the intricate landscapes of identity and belonging, creating work that speaks to the in-between spaces we all occupy. My art serves as a mirror for the complexity of the human experience, reflecting the foreigner that resides in each of us, shaped by our unique contexts. Rooted in my Mexican-American heritage, my exploration of racial ambiguity and gender fluidity informs my creative process, allowing me to challenge traditional narratives. In my recent paintings, I utilize abstracted portraiture, color theory, and moiré patterns, crafting compositions that blur the lines between figure and background. This deliberate ambiguity invites viewers to engage in a deeper dialogue with the artwork, encouraging them to look beyond the surface and uncover the layers of meaning hidden within. Through careful observation and a willingness to embrace curiosity, I hope to inspire a greater appreciation for nuance and the complexities of identity. We are all, in some sense, foreign to someone and somewhere, yet it is this shared experience of strangeness that can unite us rather than divide us. My work is a call to acknowledge our differences while celebrating our collective humanity, reminding us that our identities are fluid and multifaceted.