ArteVoces
About the Dialogue Series
ArteVoces will spotlight Latine artists from the D.C. area through a series of dialogues. These conversations will feature artists at different career stages to foster insightful discussions about establishing an arts career and building community in the Washington region. With support from Humanities DC, these dialogues will be recorded and presented at a public event this spring and published in a limited edition zine.
Meet the Artists
Aynex Mercado
Textiles
Aynex Mercado has been creating art quilts for over 20 years. Her award-winning work has been shown around the country in many exhibitions and quilt shows. Originally from Puerto Rico, Mercado has lived in Frederick, Maryland, since 2008 with her cat Hexie. During the day, Mercado works as a senior user experience designer for the National Cancer Institute. She suffered a spinal cord injury in 1997, but that has not stopped her from chasing her dreams. Mercado’s portfolio and journal can be seen at aynexquilts.com and look for her on Instagram and Threads at @aynexquilts.
Lulo / Julio Navone
Painting
Lulo (full name Julio Navone) is a muralist, set designer, painter and draftsman. For over 20 years, he has been dedicated to art. In recent years, he has mainly focused on social muralism. Lulo believes that art is a powerful tool to promote change and reflection in society. He has completed numerous high-profile mural projects and continues to seek out opportunities to use his talents to make a positive impact on the world.
Guayi Fernandez
Photography
As a street photographer, Guayi Fernandez is captivated by the ever-changing tapestry of urban life. Guided by curiosity, she aims to capture fleeting moments, hidden stories and raw emotions that unfold on the streets. Through her lens, she uncovers the extraordinary within the ordinary, shining a light on the often-overlooked aspects of city life. Fernandez sees the streets as a stage for real-life dramas and spontaneous expressions of humanity to play out. By immersing herself in this vibrant energy, she preserves these moments as visual narratives that transcend the everyday. Her photography embraces serendipity, allowing chance encounters to guide her work. Each image reflects the vibrancy and diversity of urban life, celebrating its complexity and authenticity. Fernandez strives to connect with viewers, inviting them to see the beauty in the mundane and inspiring a deeper appreciation for the world around us.
Mia Angel
Ceramics
ENCÁNTARO is a solo studio practice established by Mexican ceramicist Mia Angel in the Spring of 2021. ENCÁNTARO comes from the verb “encantar” (to enchant or love something dearly) and the noun “cántaro” (a large vessel for liquids, traditionally made of clay or metal). This body of work is a living collage and tangible record of Angel’s pursuit to reconnect with her homeland through the process of making with clay. Each project is an opportunity to explore and reference Mexico’s rich and vibrant culture, ranging from traditional dance and pottery to silversmith art and modernist architecture. The objects are produced through a combination of hand building and wheel throwing techniques, using materials such as stoneware, locally sourced slips (from Mexico and the U.S.) and Mexican barro, such that no two pieces are alike, and nor do they follow strict timelines. They invite everyone to deeper curiosity, conversation and connection — to home and others.
Noelle Zambrano
Ceramics
Noelle Zambrano is a self-taught ceramic artist who maintains a full-time studio practice in Hyattsville, Maryland. Born to Ecuadorian and Hungarian immigrants and raised in Washington, D.C., her work draws on the rich craft traditions of South America and Eastern Europe, specifically pottery and textiles. Zambrano developed her passion for ceramics after becoming a mother in 2018 and taking her first ceramics class in a community studio. Now she processes her own backyard clay, foraged rocks and minerals to create small-batch, wheel-thrown tableware and beautiful everyday objects. Zambrano displays her work throughout the D.C. region at art festivals, maker fairs and farmer's markets with the belief that well-crafted artware should be accessible to all. She holds a BA from Oberlin College and an MA from Georgetown University, and she was the 2024 recipient of the Bill Brown Fellowship at the Haystack Mountain School of Crafts in Deer Isle, Maine.
Rachel Dickerson
Ceramics
Rachel Dickerson is a 28-year-old sculptor from Upper Marlboro, Maryland. As a Salvadoran and African American artist, her cultural heritage and identity shape her artistic vision and approach. Her sculptures explore organic forms, textures and the fluidity of nature, blending abstraction and realism. Inspired by the curves of plants, the intricate patterns of coral and the movement of water, Dickerson’s work invites viewers to connect personally with the pieces. Each sculpture emerges from a tactile conversation with the clay, balancing intuitive shaping and intentional design. Through vibrant, layered glazes and flowing shapes, Dickerson’s pieces reflect the beauty, complexity and unpredictability of the natural world. Her work creates an immersive sensory experience, rooted in the duality of her heritage and connection to the dynamic environment around her. She strives to spark curiosity and inspire connection in all who encounter her art.
Project Team
Project Director: Marcelo Jauregui-Volpe
Dialogue Moderators: artist Carlos Carmonamedina and Melinda Machado, director of communications at the National Museum of American History
Humanities Scholar: Carlos Carmonamedina
Executive Director: Christine MacDonald
Social Media/Design: Claudia Peralta Torres and Iris Lopez
This project is funded in part by a grant from HumanitiesDC.
Acerca del Serie de Diálogos
ArteVoces destacará a artistas latinos de D.C. a través de una serie de diálogos. Estas conversaciones contarán con artistas que están en distintas etapas de sus carreras para fomentar discusiones sobre cómo establecer una carrera artística y construir una comunidad en la región de Washington. Con el apoyo de Humanities DC, estos diálogos serán grabados y presentados en un evento público la próxima primavera y publicados en una revista de edición limitada.
Meet las Artistas
Equipo del Proyecto
Este programa ha sido financiado en parte por una subvención de HumanitiesDC.