For me, motivation and inspiration stem from the challenges life chooses to present. Born in the Philippines, my cultural roots are influenced by the stories and experiences of my family—my grandmother’s death left her father at his youth, abandoning him to face his own adversities and learning to survive the streets and squatters of Manila. My mother and my Inay shared the same hardships, brought on by a country faced by greed and depravity. Their experiences help shape and mold the person they are now, and the person I long to be. Having the Filipino culture ingrained into my upbringing, mar...

For me, motivation and inspiration stem from the challenges life chooses to present. Born in the Philippines, my cultural roots are influenced by the stories and experiences of my family—my grandmother’s death left her father at his youth, abandoning him to face his own adversities and learning to survive the streets and squatters of Manila. My mother and my Inay shared the same hardships, brought on by a country faced by greed and depravity. Their experiences help shape and mold the person they are now, and the person I long to be. Having the Filipino culture ingrained into my upbringing, married with the American attitude, it is evident how my perception of life has left an indelible imprint on my commitment to the arts. Art is as integral to life as the oxygen and blood in my veins. I currently reside in New York City. My series on "Through the Looking Glass: Human and nature seek meaning through art" was exhibited at Green Spaces NYC and Greenpoint Gallery. Future exhibits of other series will be held in the summer/early fall. Please visit my website at http://www.joannadelarosa.com.