Alexandra Nunez is a visual artist from the Bronx, New York. Her parents are natives from the Dominican Republic, who migrated to the US in the late 1970’s. She grew up in an urban community of immigrant families surrounded by social disparities and she is a product of that difficult and diverse environment. Her interest in art began in high school where she enjoyed drawing abstractions of her own self-portraits. Alexandra completed her undergraduate studies at Lehman College, majoring in Studio Art and minoring in Secondary Education. Because she found the Bronx so culturally rich and inspiring, Alexandra created art that was a direct reflection of the experience in her community.
After receiving her undergraduate degree, she took some time off and began working in the community with children. Her experience as a respite worker at the St. Dominic’s Home, allowed her to work closely with disadvantaged families and provide service to children with mental and social health concerns. This work had significantly influenced her paintings, creating a space where she would use art as therapy. Painting became a tool for assisting both herself and her clients. She formed art groups, participated in workshops and began immersing herself within her community to share, transform and empower youth through art. She was motivated by the forms of expression and experiences these children shared so openly. She knew someday she would want to teach, so she decided to move to California for graduate school at the Academy of Art University. Since then, Alexandra has been working on her master’s degree in Fine Art. She is also a Behavioral Specialist and Scheduler in Oakland, providing services to children of special needs. This has created an opportunity for her to merge her art with her increased understanding of childhood development. Graduate school has strengthened her artistic impact and has allowed her to share her art with the youth and her surrounding community. Alexandra’s connection with children for over a decade has flourished through her art. Alexandra Nunez’s portraits are not merely realistic faces, but expressive paintings exploring childhood diversity within our contemporary world. |