This is the first in a series highlighting the uphill battle Latina artists face and celebrating the incredible work of these three powerhouse creators. In the coming installments, we’ll dive into their individual stories, their art, and how they’re reshaping an industry that wasn’t built for them.

Let’s talk about a glaring issue: Latina visual artists are overlooked, undervalued, and underpaid. It’s not exactly news that the art industry has a long history of exclusion, but when it comes to Latinas, the barriers hit especially hard. We’re fighting a dual battle, not just to get our work seen but to be rewarded fairly when it finally is.

And it’s not just anecdotal. The numbers back it up. According to the National Museum of Women in the Arts, only 13% of artists represented by galleries in the U.S. are women, and there’s no breakdown in the data for ethnicity. Similarly, a 2022 Artnet News study revealed that works by women artists accounted for only 2% of the global art auction market. These studies don’t track Latina representation specifically, which further erases their contributions and makes it difficult to pinpoint how much of this minuscule percentage includes Latina creators.

And the underrepresentation isn’t just about the numbers – it’s also about the stories that go untold. As a fine artist myself, I’ve experienced firsthand how difficult it is to pitch stories about Latina artists to major arts publications. When I try to highlight the incredible work of Latina creators or discuss our shared experiences in the art world, I’m often met with silence or told the topic isn’t a “fit.” It’s frustrating and disheartening, especially knowing how vital these narratives are to our cultural fabric. This lack of press representation doesn’t just erase individual artists – it erases entire communities, making it even harder to celebrate and uplift Latina contributions to fine art.

But here’s the thing: Latinas aren’t just contributing to the art world – we’re shaping it. Artists like Yali Romagoza, Elsa Maria Meléndez, and Joiri Minaya are pushing back against these inequities. These artists are part of a growing movement of creative resistance, using their art not only to tell their own stories but also to demand systemic change.

The Systemic Problem: Gatekeeping in the Art World

Latina artists aren’t lacking in talent, ambition, or ideas. What we’re lacking is access – to galleries, funding, and platforms that treat them as equals rather than afterthoughts. Press coverage shapes all of this by influencing whose work gets visibility, whose projects receive grants, and who is deemed “worthy” of institutional support. When Latina artists are left out of these narratives, it becomes harder for us to gain the financial backing and resources necessary to sustain our practice. The press doesn’t just reflect the art world—it actively shapes it, and without diverse representation, the cycle of exclusion continues.

While the art world loves to tout its commitment to diversity, the numbers often stop at vague representations of gender, without digging into race or ethnicity. This lack of intersectional data allows the industry to ignore Latina creators entirely, erasing us from the conversation.

Meanwhile, many galleries continue to operate through exclusionary networks that prioritize white male artists or tokenize a select few women of color. Latina artists are frequently pigeonholed into creating work that fits narrow stereotypes of “cultural” or “ethnic” art rather than being celebrated for their full creative range. This pattern limits how our work is valued. When Latina artists do gain attention, we are often underpaid compared to our peers, continuing a cycle of financial instability that makes sustaining a career incredibly difficult.

The systemic inequities don’t stop there. Major grants, residencies, and mentorship opportunities often go to artists with preexisting connections to institutions or collectors, leaving Latina artists shut out. Without these critical resources, we’re left to navigate an industry that often feels designed to exclude us.

Why It Matters

The exclusion of Latina artists isn’t just an injustice – it’s a profound cultural loss. Latina creators bring rich cultural heritages, complex diasporic identities, and lived experiences that are essential to understanding our collective human story. Ignoring our contributions robs the art world of depth and richness.

Representation in art matters because it shapes who feels included in the cultural conversation. When Latina artists are visible, we inspire the next generation of creators and audiences, affirming that our voices matter.

But beyond representation, Latina artists are crucial to challenging the art world’s narrow definitions of “value.” Our work often interrogates issues like colonialism, identity, and systemic inequality, forcing institutions and audiences to rethink entrenched norms. Supporting Latina artists means fostering innovation, expanding the scope of art history, and creating a more dynamic cultural landscape.

Creative Resistance

Despite these barriers, Latina artists are refusing to be erased. Yali Romagoza, for instance, uses her art to critique colonial and patriarchal systems that marginalize Latina voices. Her work draws from her experiences as a Cuban immigrant, weaving personal narrative into broader critiques of systemic inequities.

Elsa Maria Meléndez, a Puerto Rican artist, stitches stories of resilience and resistance into her textile-based pieces. Her works explore themes of gender, colonialism, and survival, creating tactile and intimate narratives that demand viewers engage with the weight of her subject matter.

Joiri Minaya, a Dominican-born artist, uses performance, installation, and photography to challenge how Latina bodies are objectified and commodified. Her art reclaims agency, confronting the exoticization of Caribbean culture while offering a bold critique of the systems that perpetuate these harmful narratives.

A Series for Visibility and Change

Erased in Plain Sight: The Silent Struggle of Latina Artists aims to shine a light on the systemic barriers Latina artists face and celebrate their incredible work In the coming installments, we’ll explore their individual journeys, the themes that drive their work, and how they’re fighting for visibility and equity in an industry that has long excluded them. We’ll also explore the deeper issues at play, examining how the press’s reluctance to cover Latina visual artists contributes to a broader culture of erasure.

This is a call to action – not just to celebrate Latina artists but to demand systemic change. Supporting Latina artists means amplifying their voices, holding institutions accountable, and challenging the structures that perpetuate inequity. Stay tuned as we bring you these powerful stories and insights. Together, we can ensure that Latina artists aren’t just visible – they’re valued.