Hannah Paz-Westbrook (they/she) is a queer Xicana multimedia artist based in Albuquerque, NM. They received their Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting at Herron School of Art + Design in Indianapolis. Hannah has exhibited in Indianapolis, Chicago, Houston, New York, and New Mexico. Their work is part of the permanent collections of the Eskenazi Health Foundation, and Gregory & Appel. In 2021, Hannah co-founded ONE DROP, an artist collective that promotes and exhibits marginalized artists across the US. Currently, Hannah is exploring the combination of painting, fiber arts, video projection, and the politics of identity and place.
Artist Statement
As an anti-disciplinary artist, I resist patriarchal and colonial concepts of mastery over a medium. I synthesize a common language between various materials such as painting, fiber arts, and video, pulling together disciplines that may seem incongruent on the surface. Rooted in my Mexican-American heritage and through my exploration of queerness and gender fluidity, my creative process allows me to challenge traditional narratives. Growing up as a mixed-race, queer, third-culture kid, I am intimately familiar with belonging in in-between spaces. My art serves as a mirror for the complexity of the human experience, reflecting the strange and unique parts of us that defy assimilation, risk being misunderstood, and insist on celebration. I utilize abstracted portraiture, color theory, and moiré patterns, crafting compositions that blur the lines between figures and backgrounds. This deliberate ambiguity invites viewers to engage in a deeper dialogue with the artwork, encouraging us 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 complexity.
CV
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2020 - BFA Herron School of Art + Design, Indianapolis, IN
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2025
Staff Picks, Remedy Coffee, Albuquerque, NM, group show
Not For Sale, Evoke Gallery, Chicago, IL, group show
2024
Just Like Heaven, Random Access Gallery, Syracuse, NY, group show
generations ii, Gregory & Appel, Indianapolis, IN, group show, permanent collection
Talavera, The Stutz, Indianapolis, IN, group show
Winding Accord, Global Economic Summit at Indiana Convention Center and Companion Gallery, Indianapolis, IN, group show
Eskenazi Health Center, Thomas and Arlene Grande Campus, Indianapolis, IN, group show, permanent collection
Industry Baby, Garfield Park Arts Center, Indianapolis, IN, group show
Nouvelle Nature, ArtsGarden at Circle Center Mall, Indianapolis, IN, temporary installation at Midwest Fashion Week runway show
2023
Chromagic, The Stutz, Indianapolis, IN, group show
DigiGaze, State Street Pub, Indianapolis, IN, solo show
Enamoiré, Harrison Gallery, Indianapolis, IN, solo show
2022
Between Us: Midwest Vanguard, OneAmerica Tower, Indianapolis, IN, group show
HumanKIND: Identity Hidden and Revealed, Indiana Wesleyan University, 1920 Gallery, duo show
2021
Green: A Color Exhibit, Garfield Park Arts Center, Indianapolis, IN, group show
Undergraduate Capstone Show, Eskenazi Fine Arts Center, Indianapolis, IN, group show
Sum of Unity, Berkshire, Reese and Paul Galleries, Indianapolis, IN, group show
2020
NEVER ODD OR EVEN, Herron School of Art + Design, Indianapolis, IN, solo show
Homebound, Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN, group show
College Invitational, Indianapolis Art Center, Indianapolis, IN, group show
Annual Student Show, Barnes and Thornberg LLP, Indianapolis, IN, group show
2019-2018
Annual Student Show, Barnes and Thornberg LLP, Indianapolis, IN, group show
Undergraduate Student Show, Berkshire, Reese, and Paul Galleries, Indianapolis, IN, group show
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Navigating Polarities, Gregory & Appel, Indianapolis, IN
Webs of Co-Created Space, Eskenazi Health Center, Indianapolis, IN
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2024
Undercurrents, Gallery 411, Columbus, IN, group show
2023
Underground, 4th Street Garage, Bloomington, IN, group show
2022
Blueprints, Columbus Visitors Center, Columbus, IN, group show
Molasses, Elevate Creative Studios, Houston, TX, group show
2021
One Drop, The AMP at 16-Tech, Indianapolis, IN, group show