Rocio Villanueva
Army Veteran OEF 21-C
Rocio Villanueva, Mother, Veteran, Artist and Advocate.
Ceramics and mix media are the mediums I use to create an open dialogue with others and share the process of developing projects through mutual exchange and support. I have been using art to express emotions and ideas that are not physical, by giving them a form through sculpting. There is something that happens when working with my hands that connects my deepest emotions and grounds me. My goal is to help others express themselves, reveal their skills, and achieve a better insight of who they are.

As a proud veteran I have experienced a lot of great things as well as horrible things. My life has been surrounded by love from my family, at the same time I have struggled on the inside knowing I am not worthy. I discovered that art has help my healing process and that also has giving me a way to express my emotions in a form where worlds are hard to find. When it comes to trauma, I feel we never really know what others are dealing with or going through and Art is a gateway to understand the things that others have seen and experienced. There is so much more art can bring to society, the symbolism and meaning of a person’s expressions can aid and inspire others. Through art I have discovered the joy of being able to do something constructive, to make a difference in someone else’s life and to show compassion which is needed now more than ever. I believe we all can create even if we don’t believe in ourselves as artists. No matter the medium of art, it all changes something within you. There are no value judgments, just the encouragement to overcome social, medical and psychological barriers.
Art description.
The limit of safe space.
Mix medium. Acrylic on wood canvas, Barbed-wire and had sculpted porcelain butterflies. A reflection on the generative potential between internal and external space.
2 8 X 8 inches
Available for display only part of private collection. 2022
A fence is not only to divide us or protect us from falling. It is a reminder that connects two different spaces that are standing next to each other.
This piece means a lot to me because I’ve been on both sides of the wire. I’m proud to be a Veteran and also I am proud to be an immigrant from Jalisco, Mexico. The cultural impact of barbed-wire and the willingness to find hope has impacted us in many different facets of life. This piece is deeply inspired by expressing all that humans feel and relate to help us grow into a wiser and more resilient version of ourselves. The goal within this Art expression is to create an open dialogue and develop projects through exchange and mutual support.