Food is Solidarity: Esmeralda Vasquez

Esmeralda Vasquez

Artist Bio:

Esmeralda Andrea Vasquez (@esoveresmeralda) is a self-taught multidisciplinary artist and muralist currently based out of the Seattle area. Her experience as a Queer/Latinx artist from the Yakima Valley has expanded her view of the world and guided all of her work to be made with purpose and intention. With a focus on color theory and symbolism, she is constantly developing her craft by taking on new opportunities and learning to work with new mediums.

Her passion and ambition has led her on a growing path of creative projects and collaborations with Seattle Art Museum, The Seattle Public Library, MoPop, Pro-Choice WA, The Museum of Flight, Young Women Empowered, Mary’s Place, The City of Bellevue, and the Seattle Storm (WNBA).

“My public artwork is an extension of my values and my way of showing up for the
things I believe in. I’m passionate about serving a role in my community and public
art has been a way for me to achieve that.”

Artist Statement:

I was in Kindergarten when I first learned about the whole “sharing is caring” concept.  I really took that to heart because it just made sense to me. Caring for others through the act of sharing food has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. It’s something that was instilled in me from a very young age between my family and my time in school, up until now into my adulthood. I love hosting parties and gatherings for my friends and bringing a mix of people together to share time and space with one another.

My illustration for the theme “Food is Solidarity” focuses on this concept in the form of a potluck party. People coming together to create a collaborative meal that invites others to not only share food, but to also share stories and life experiences as a form of solidarity. Food can be viewed as a symbol of diversity and act as a lens into someone’s cultural identity. Food holds the power to influence a conversation and connect people from different walks of life.

Food is Solidarity because it’s more than a resource, it’s a catalyst for community and genuine human connection. I’m grateful for this opportunity to share my illustration of this concept and to collaborate with Northwest Harvest to help further their mission through visual storytelling and social awareness.

#ArtistsForFoodJustice: Twelve Washington artists from Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities and marginalized identities interpret our monthly Meaning of Food themes through original digital artwork, premiering on the first day of each month. Learn more about this series and the artists here.