Keziah Enid Navarro Vazquez
College of Fine Arts, Studio Art (BFA)
Thinking of You
My work is heavily influenced by my faith and beliefs, relationships, my culture, and lived experiences. I create paintings with the intention to offer viewers a moment of pause, a space to reflect on their own relationships, life experiences, and emotions.
Artwork Description:
Thinking of You is inspired from a souvenir my boyfriend gifted me after returning from his overseas Army deployment. His uniform ties in connection with this object, and to his presence and service. During his off-duty time, he visited Petra, Jordan, and got to see one of the seven wonders of the world, the famous Al-Khazneh (the Treasury). Often, I knew little to no information about his whereabouts due to Army regulations. This and distance left me feeling anxious and uncertain, leaning onto hope and prayers for his safety. This souvenir reminds me that he was constantly thinking of me no matter where he went, as so was I. While thinking of me, he took a moment out of his busy schedule to purchase this souvenir with the thought of returning home and surprising me with it. It symbolizes our mutual devotion during that season, heavy with fear and love, now transformed into a bittersweet memory that makes up part of our story. This painting is a tribute to his bravery, service, and experiences during his time in the Army and our shared love for one another.