Today we’d like to introduce you to Kiki Serna.
Hi Kiki, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Aquetzali Serna, I go by Kiki and I’m a local artist here in Kansas City. I graduated from the Kansas City Art Institute and my studio practice revolves around my own immigrant experience. My art explores themes of culture, storytelling, fragmented memory, and the immigrant experience. Visually my work is bright and colorful and contains autobiographical imagery, plants, maps, and text. My installations also include sculptural components and collage-based material. My practice revolves around creating my personal work, organizing and collaborating with other artists. Currently, I have been collaborating with Cesar Lopez in a Traveling Latinx Exhibition called La Onda. La Onda seeks to showcase local Latinx artists in multiple spaces. I currently work at Mattie Rhodes Art Center as the Gallery Coordinator, a position that makes sense with my career path. I love to work within the community space, organizing, curating, and engaging.
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?
It’s been a long road with smooth roads after rough roads. Although that can been tough, it becomes rewarding after overcoming those obstacles. I think for me it’s always been knowing that there is always a milestone at the end of any circumstance and being able to learn and grow can make things more manageable for the future.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Just like any personal and intimate art practice, my work offers an insight into my personal and familial narrative. I love using bright colors because they remind me of Mexico. Mexico has no rules with colors. People paint their homes whatever colors they want…you see so much greenery, beautiful plants and gardens. I’m still very homesick, so being able to recreate flowers out of engrudo, draw memories, paint textures of our home gives me a concrete reiteration of that which I miss. It’s a way for me to still exist inside of those spaces which are now obsolete or abstract. You will usually see engrudo plants or fruits paired with my drawings and paintings. They help bridge something factual to something abstract and are there to complete parts of my fragmented memories. I think these are elements in my work that really stand out and for me offer the intimacy which I miss.
Is there anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
You can follow my Instagram to stay informed on any of my upcoming shows or practices: @k.sernaaa
& Follow La Onda on Instagram to see any of our upcoming exhibit venues and to learn more about the artists in the project.
@La_onda_exhibition
Contact Info:
- Website: kikiserna.com
