SAMERA PAZ

hamiltonianartists.org/artists1/samera-paz

Samera Paz is a multidisciplinary artist based in Washington, DC, specializing in photography and performance art. Her work is deeply inspired by her identity as a queer Colombian-American woman, personal experiences with mental health, and the power of vulnerability. Paz has exhibited her work in over forty art exhibits, including solo shows and group exhibitions. Her work has been featured in several publications, highlighting her unique perspective on feminism, social justice, and personal growth. Paz is also a passionate activist and community organizer. Her commitment to creating positive change is evident in both her art and her activism. Through her work, Paz encourages others to be daring and vulnerable in their own artistic pursuits, embracing their cultures, identities, and stories.

My bedroom is a place where I feel most comfortable, where I got my start as a self-taught artist. The place where my creative ideas have blossomed, and died. It is the space where I am most vulnerable, exploring my innermost thoughts and emotions. It was important for me to revisit my old habit of creating work in my bedroom, because it presented the challenge of finding new inspiration in an exceedingly familiar space. There, I was confronted by my material possessions, my role in consumerism, and how the items we use represent not only who we are—but the systems we engage in. When I’m no longer in this physical world, what will the items I leave behind reveal about me? The diaries I keep hold my thoughts, secrets, and past selves. My beauty products help me meet and maintain arbitrary beauty standards. The clothes I wear are simultaneously a form of self expression, and byproducts of an unsustainable fashion industry. These photographs document my ongoing process of self reflection. Through this series, I invite viewers to take stock of the items in their space and consider how they reflect aspects of their public and private selves.