Today we’d like to introduce you to Glenda.
Hi Glenda, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My name is Glenda Hernandez Quezada, or as some know me, Glenda Alicia or Itsúri Tsari (which means bright hummingbird). I am an immigrant from Mexico and of mixed indigenous background. My family and I lived in a border town called Tecate and lived our early lives in Los Angeles and in the Miami Dade greater area. I always had an affinity towards art because both sides of my family are creatives or hold ancestral practices like my maternal grandmother showing me embroidery and my paternal grandfather showing me how to do woodworking and crafts. Because of my natural and artistic upbringing in the arts, I ventured all my life in the arts field of education and workforce. I eventually worked at museums, freelance modeling for companies and renowned Mexican-American artists, photography, hairstyling assisting, and studio assisting for quite some time. I used to be a personal and studio assistant for awarded celebrity hairstylist Patricia Morales . I was also featured as a model in Vogue World (2019), Shop JZD (2019-2021), Lady Gunn (2021), Apple (2021), Ralph Lauren (2021), Vogue (2021-2022), Apostrophe Reps (2022), Manzanita Sol (2022), and Oneul Zine (2022), Canva (2022). Currently, I am back in Miami with my close family and partner doing freelance art directing and photography alongside finishing my Bachelor of Arts degree.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey has been filled with many adversities, hurtles and figuring out what is possible for my immigration status as a DACA recipient (Deferred Action of Childhood Arrivals). Because all my life I have dealt with education and political obstacles because of my status, I have become very resilient and adaptable to find new paths to continue my career and education in arts. I have been a sole provider for myself and people around me since I was 18, so it’s been a long and complex journey that has taught me a lot about strength, preservation, and gratitude despite it all.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a freelance interdisciplinary artist and overall creative. I do drawing, painting, sculpture, ceramics, embroidery, art directing, logo design, etc. I am mostly known for my fine arts, modeling, and cultural work. I’ve had a lot of great opportunities very young, for example: having a solo exhibition at a local art gallery in Los Angeles by age 21, being part of holiday and new technology campaigns as a model, and working on set for cool magazines like VMagazine. An important journey for me is working as a hairstyling assistant for renowned celebrity hairstylist Patricia Morales, who is an inspiring creative but she is an amazing mentor to me. Going to photoshoots, on-set location commercial shoots, and studio work has molded me a lot as well as shown me how the industry works and how to execute photoshoots in general. From my advocacy work, I use my platform a lot for Indigenous history and education. I am an active member of my communities (Nahua: Tecuxe, Equamar, and P’urepecha), being a vital member as a helper in cultural and historical revitalization movement. I dedicated a good 10 years helping others in their journey to reconnect to their roots while helping give access to a lot more rare and unique information about many cultures that many assume to be “assimilated” or “dead”. As a model and creative, I have also been depicted by many great Mexican and Mexican American artists: like Gustavo Rimada (Los Angeles), Janin Nuz (San Luis Potosí), Rick Ortega (Los Angeles), Wess Montoya (CDMX), Lizette Charlotte (MX), Brando Maldonado Vallejos (New Mexico), and Abner Rojas (Guadalajara). As an artist myself, it has been the biggest compliment and accomplishment for me to be depicted in the same zeitgeist I am a part of and have built so many memories through my hard work. To be recognized and immortalized by my peers brings me a lot of deep emotions since a part of me lives and moves beyond borders. It solidifies that art has always transcended and moved past through any man-made lines in the sand.
So, before we go, how can our readers or others connect or collaborate with you? How can they support you?
I am definitely a big supporter of collaboration, and my best work as well inspiration have been working with local artists in my community. Local artists are the backbone of all cultural and subcultures in metropolitan cities, and we should never forget to continue to work together to share our stories at this point in time. There is strength and power in numbers for us local artists who want to continue to create for the sake of the art and telling our stories accurately without the influence of external influences.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://glendaalicia.portfoliobox.net/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glenduhalicia
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/glenda-hernandez-quezada-297920224
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@glenduhalicia
