Today we’d like to introduce you to Monica Robles
Hi Monica, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Having been born and raised 17 years in New York City, I was constantly surrounded by vibrant and overlapping art everywhere: graffiti, murals, advertisements, signs, design, swathes of people dressing as they pleased, the never ending waves of different cultures crossing paths, and of course, the many art museums NYC has to offer. Between the aforementioned, the vast collection of books within the New York Public Library system, and our growing collection of VHS tapes/DVDs at the time, I had plenty to soak in from. Such tapes and DVD included Disney and Pixar movies from the past decade (I was born in 1998!), as well as behind-the-scenes commentary from the art crew. Living in a city of art, my mom and I took advantage of its resources: going to small neighborhood art classes, finding high school programs that ran on Saturdays at NYU and zine workshops at the MoMA. And of course, one must thank the internet for connecting artists, and many more feathers of a bird. I found the work of students at the Kansas City Art Institute, feeling drawn in by their personal accounts of living in KCMO, Though I only spent less than two years at KCAI, I have stayed here since 2016, and have found it to be home.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I worked in fast food all of summer 2016, saving up for my plane ticket to Kansas City as well as school materials, negotiating financial aid on the bus rides home. I was able to present my home situation as part of my key to financial aid; both my parents are working-class immigrants that spoke English as a second language, and my mother was going through divorce right at the time of me leaving for college. I did make it to KCMO, but was still stretched thin after the purchases of mandatory art supplies on the first day, to where I couldn’t even afford hygienic products, until my last check was mailed to me.
At the time of my enrollment, the dorms were only available to freshmen, so I got a job as a bank teller, and proceeded to struggle balancing my sophomore year with paying bills on my own, until I made the heavy decision to drop out, and focus on working.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Growing up working class, you had to work with what was available, such as old reliables like pen and paper. It’s also the most classic medium for comics and cartoons, which has so few limitations, including being so portable.
Other “old reliables” include acrylic/oil paints, markers, canvas, and clay. But doodling and sketching are probably my “trademarks”. There’s just too much time spent on working to pay the bills! Otherwise I’d do it all, all the time.
I’m really glad to have been part of the 2024 Parade of Hearts — my first contribution to the local art scene, and a five foot love letter to the LGBTQ+ community, no less!
What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
When I was getting ready to move out here in 2016, people would ask me why I’d move to cow country, and honestly? There has a severe lack of cows in my life these past 8 years.
Regardless — there was much more to KC than I was ready for when I first moved here, with the food, art, music, and LGBTQ+ scenes booming then, and much more now, with the sports teams in tow. I was also surprised to find a Mexican community here, and how deeply their roots can run into the history of KC. And having paid to use public transit my entire NYC life, it was so great to see KC embrace a zero bus fare policy! But honestly, the couple last things I really want from KC is rent control, and for it to be established as a sanctuary city, not just for our trans neighbors (which is wonderful!), but for our immigrant community as well, especially given that they have been an integral building block to our city’s growth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://mtrmtr.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_mtrmtr/
- Twitter: https://x.com/_mtrmtr
- Other: https://mtrmtr98.bsky.social
