Will Wcmtl Raojenina

Lives and works in Los Angeles, CA, USA

Artist statement

Throughout my lifetime, I have heard these words too many times: "You do not belong here" and "Go back to where you come from." I create paintings that oppose deceptive perceptions of immigrants in America. My art is inspired by the inner feelings of migrants and focuses on their unwavering perseverance in overcoming discrimination and abuse associated with cultural rejection and social marginalization. Using immigrants and people of color as my primary reference, the positive energy portrayed in my art highlights that they are some of the most hard-working, loving, caring, and beautiful people. Using a combination of thick mixed media that I meticulously built up layer after layer, I create a unique mark-making texture that symbolizes the built emotions accumulated during injustices, but at the end, the texture produces a beautiful uneven surface which illustrates how feelings, good and bad, reminds us that we can accomplish the extraordinary despite the trials. I aim to inspire my viewers to promote a deeper appreciation for immigrants and people of color while placing relevance not on the differences but on our similarities, hoping we can come together from a place of love and understanding.

Artwork