Heritage is where we come from. It’s the people, places and traditions that shape our worldview and inform our identity. I was born in Colombia, and grew up between Panama and Miami. I remember the bright colors of the Panamanian forests and the beaches. I loved the bold dresses of the Carnival queens and one of a kind patterns of the mola.
Hispanic culture is incredibly broad yet inclusive, spanning Central and South America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Spain. Though each country and community has its own distinct cuisine and traditions, there are throughlines that reverberate across Hispanic culture. These elements–bright colors, bold textures and unique patterns–show up over and over again in my own designs and the work of my favorite Hispanic artists.
This Hispanic Heritage Month, I want to celebrate by highlighting a few of my favorite Hispanic artists. From painters and jewelers to fashion and interior designers, these artists inspire me to dream bigger, design bolder, and showcase my Hispanic heritage through my work everyday.
Meet some of the artists who inspire me:
Michael Velazquez, multidisciplinary artist
I met Michael years ago at his gallery in Downtown Denver. Born in Mexico City and raised in Jalisco, Michael uses his lived experience to inform his portraits. I can see the influence of his background in his work, with the bright colors and strong subjects of his paintings. He paints women in a bold and empowering way, showcasing femininity with strength. Michael relocated to Miami, but his Downtown Denver showroom is still one of my favorite places to pop by whenever I need some inspiration. Check out Michael’s work on his website here.
Catalina and Paula, Jewelry Designers, Heliconia Boutique
One of my favorite Colombian jewelers lives right here in Denver. Heliconia Boutique is a latin- and women-owned business that creates beautiful jewelry inspired by the landscapes, flowers, historical figures and metals celebrated in Colombia. These elevated, energizing pieces bring out the inner child in me, reminding me of the freedom and beauty of the place that’s part of my heritage. Every piece of jewelry is made in limited quantities, so you can be sure what you’re wearing is truly one of a kind.
Some of my favorite pieces of theirs are this line designed after Colombia’s national orchid, the Cattleya flower, and these pieces featuring jaguars, an animal that is common throughout Colombia. Check out more of their pieces on their website here.
Rachel Moriarty, Interior Designer
Rachel is who I want to be when I grow up. She is an interior designer with Mexican, Native American and Filipina roots who infuses her heritage into everything she does. Like me, Rachel doesn’t shy away from maximalism. She brings unique and contrasting colors, patterns and textures into spaces expertly and seamlessly. I love watching how her Hispanic heritage inspires everything she does–from the rooms she designs to the clothes she wears. Check out Rachel’s interior design work on her website here.
Jochebec Arjona, Fashion Designer
Jochebe is a Panamanian fashion designer that I’ve been following for years. She creates luxury suits, clothing, swimwear and more incorporating patterns from an Indigenous group called the Guna people in Panama. Women in this culture create colorful textile patterns called Mola. I love how Jochebe incorporates these beautiful prints onto luxury clothing items, elevating the patterns to be recognized as the artform they are. You can read more about the mola pattern in our logo here. Check out Jochebec’s work on her Instagram here.
Hispanic Heritage Month gives people an opportunity to celebrate and pay tribute to our Hispanic culture. I love how Hispanic culture shines through with each of these artists. But I also love how each artist’s work is one of a kind. Though we may share portions of our heritage, each artist translates these histories in a way that is completely unique to them and their experience. This variation demonstrates the true richness, diversity and inclusivity of Hispanic culture. I’m so proud to celebrate these artists and our culture this Hispanic Heritage Month.
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