Today we’d like to introduce you to Katerine Nazareth Viloria a.k.a KattNaz.
Katerine Nazareth, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I was 17 when I first learned what it meant to be an illegal immigrant in this country. Growing up in Miami since I was two years old, I always thought I’d have the same opportunities as my classmates, but it wasn’t until I applied to college and tried to get a job that I realized that my path would be very different. See, I was born in Caracas, Venezuela in 1989 and brought to Miami with my parents a year and a half later when they came to work a gig and check out the salsa music scene. We were there on a work visa and the plan was to stay for a few months and then go back home to Venezuela. Unfortunately, they discovered I needed immediate heart surgery and for my sake, we had to stay in the US past the expiration of our visa. Life happened and money became very tight. I was a latchkey kid who found art, creativity, and music to be the best way to escape all the negativity in my life. During my late teens and most of my early twenties, creating also became a way to support myself financially when odd and “under the table” jobs didn’t cut it. Today, I am married to my beautiful wife “Xue”, lived in colorful LA that taught me to go for something even if it scares me and lived in Asheville, NC where I was able to truly focus on my craft. Now, I’m back home in Miami and already learning new skills that I hope to be sharing with you in 2019.
Can you give our readers some background on your art? What do you do/make/create?
I’m an artist in various mediums from drawing, painting to making jewelry and upcycling clothing.
How? By using my hands and tools
Why? I create because it helps me cope and to get to know myself better while hopefully helping others.
What’s the message or inspiration, what do you hope people take away from it?
I hope my work touches souls even in the darkest corners of their minds because it’s important for us to all know we’re not alone. Life isn’t easy but at the end of the day, it’s your life and you have the power to do anything IF you work hard.
What should we know about your artwork?
My artwork represents my emotions, precognitive and premonition dreams, intuition, growth, life situations, mother nature, and mysticism.
How do you think about success, as an artist, and what quality do you feel is most helpful?
This one is hard for me to answer because I feel successful even in just having the feeling of peace or release through creating but being able to support yourself financially making art and ONLY art would be my definition of success. Perseverance is the quality I feel is essential to achieve this and anything in life actually.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
You can support me by checking out my work online and staying up to date for any upcoming shows or pop-ups!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.facebook.com/ArtbyKattNaz
- Email: kattnaz@gmail.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/kattnaz
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/ArtbyKattNaz
- Twitter: twitter.com/kattnaz
- Other: https://www.deviantart.com/kattnaz
Image Credit:
LA Jewelry Shoot photo Photographer: Lauren Sepulveda (www.instagram.com/lsepulvedaphoto), MUA/Styling/Model: Me, Jewelry: Naz.13, Headshot Photographer: Shannon Millsaps (https://www.instagram.com/shannonmillsaps)
Getting in touch: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
