My work combines tradition and contemporary art-making techniques with ethnic and popular culture subject matter. For me, scholarly interests and artistic endeavors can merge, although they can also be separated in our global practices, even when undercurrents shape the flow within the work. My artistic research converges on three foci: (1) Postmodern and global approaches to contemporary art, (2) indigenous, Native American/Chicana/o, and African spirituality—processes concerning ecological balance through traditional medium, and (3) Chicana feminist perspectives; these generate characters that contribute to our academic tenacity through multi-generational relationships.
Excerpt from Vasquez, Debora Kuetzpal. 2014. “Living Among Curanderas and the Imaginary of Artistic Creations.” Journal of Mujeres Activas en Letras y Cambio Social 13(2): 12-16.
Debora Kuetzpal Vasquez is a multi-media Chicana artist, born and raised in San Anto, Texas. As a child, the Chican@ Movement shaped her life, work, and the creation of Citlali: La Chicana Super Hero. Currently, Vasquez focuses on Citlalita, a child version of Citlali, and how she obtained her superpowers through las curanderas – women who heal with nature, thus linking her own work with curanderas. Vazquez’s medium is collage, illustration, clay, installation and film shorts. In 2014 she assumed a tenure track position as assistant professor and director of the Art Program at Our Lady of the Lake University.
