Meet Nereida Gutierrez | Artist and teaching artist.

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nereida Gutierrez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nereida, what makes you happy? Why?
Feeling like I have a purpose makes me happy. Being able to wake up every day knowing that my existence can make a difference in at least one persons life and that our connection, whether it’s in passing or more meaningful all have a purpose. Making art has enabled me to connect with people of all walks of life, knowing that we can share these connections adds so much joy to my life. You could say I am just a happy person and that happiness is not so much about what is going on outside of me but how I feel within.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I often get asked “What kind of art do you do”, my best response is it’s spiritual art. Each of my works of art are a different reflection or piece of my own inner world. I focus on my feelings as I paint and transmute my own journey into something visual that hopefully will get others to reflect on how it makes them feel. I loved art as a child and it became a safe place for me to express my feelings. I grew up in an abusive home where I often had to hide what I was living though. Every year a local camp that focused on the arts would provide my brother and I with a scholarship to attend in the summers. It was there where I found refuge from my home life and was able to use art as an outlet. I didn’t paint for a long time after I entered my 20’s as I became a young mom at 19. It wasn’t until the end of my 20’s when I became ill that I realized I needed a healthy outlet to process all of the bottled up feelings and trauma that had been my life. Art was there waiting for me to heal. I didn’t start painting again thinking It would lead to any kind of monetary success I just needed it on an emotional well being level. When I relocated to Los Angeles in 2016 I began painting more than I ever had before and felt this connection to my art like I never had before. I began submitting to small local art shows and I remember thinking to myself “this is what makes me feel happy” after selling my first piece. Being an artist and exposing yourself can be humbling as well as challenging in many ways, but the reward when I am able to inspire another is worth it all. I have learned that art is not about what you make but how you feel as you make it, something I often say during my art workshops. I want others to see my art and hear my story and know that they can transform their experiences into something beautiful. Because of the life I have gotten to live I have been able to see all sides of humanity and the power that art has when it comes to healing.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I absolutely love food and nature so my first stop would be Cruzita’s Deli and Cafe in Huntington Park for a cafe de olla (coffee with a hint of cinnamon and brown sugar), possibly grab a breakfast sandwich or one of the delicious pastries that are baked regularly. We would spend the morning at the Huntington Library and gardens meandering through all of the beautiful flora while disconnecting from the rest of the world. Lunch would be at the Grand Central Market for Leo’s Tacos, their quesa-tacos with carne asada are delicious! After we would walk around down town towards the last book store to check out some records, books and their art galleries on the second floor. A sweet treat at either Bottega Louie (a hazelnut beignet for me) or if we are feeling decadent then head to Joyce for their Peach & Bourbon cobbler with brown butter toffee ice cream. To burn off our lunch and desert we would head to Santa Monica for a stroll along the beach towards Venice Beach. We would grab some drinks at The Waterfront Venice while we watch the sunset. For dinner we would head to the historic Japanese restaurant Otomisan in Boyle Heights for the most authentic Udon in all of LA. To end the day we would head to the Griffith Observatory to take in a view of the whole city at night and hopefully get to watch the moon through one of their telescopes. LA has so many amazing places, restaurants and experiences that you could never run our of things to do.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Along my journey there have been so many people who have been both inspirations and reminders of my own potential. I had an amazing teacher in elementary school named Mr. Lindsey who was the first person that showed me that our ideas matter and can be brought to life. He helped me along with some classmates write a grant and present it in order to change our school lunch program that we all complained about. His hands on approach to leaning empowered me in so many ways. I painted my first mural and learned about the importance of community art because of him and it all came full circle when I was able to design and paint a mural within my local community in the summer of 2024. Mr. Lindsey along with other teachers, friends, and especially my mom have all been my greatest support that have helped me get to where I am today.

Instagram: @nereidaarts

Facebook: Nereida Arts

Image Credits
Zamora Visuals