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Mariah Garcia is a contemporary Mexican-American artist whose work explores the complexities of emotion, identity, and social consciousness through a feminist lens. Her art often addresses the personal and universal encounters of women and minorities, utilizing portraits and imaginative scenes to explore themes of gender, traditions, and societal expectations. Her practice balances deeply personal reflection with a commitment to activism, creating an environment where the audience can engage with imagery that challenges the status quo and brings suppressed narratives to life. A self-taught artist who began her journey in early childhood, Mariah further developed her perspective through studies at California State University, Fresno and extensive personal research into art history, while also earning her Bachelor’s in Art. Her academic and independent explorations focused on how imagery can serve as a primary drive for storytelling and communication beyond the reach of words. Working primarily in oil painting, she blends a juxtaposition of realism and expressionism, making her work both visually striking and emotionally resonant. Based in the Central Valley, California, Garcia’s upbringing and lived experiences in today's society are central to her creative output. Growing up, she experienced various situations that became internalized, leading her to use art as a vital outlet for processing these experiences. This history of internal reflection has deeply informed her exploration of bodily autonomy, femininity, and the global issues that persist across generations. By capturing images that do not exist in the physical world and rendering them with a life-like realism, she pushes her viewers to confront and feel the weight of the stories she depicts.