Gina Herrera is a mixed-media artist residing in California. She received her BFA in Art Education from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. During her studies, she was deployed overseas in support of several war contingencies with the Armed Forces. Once her final tour was complete, she obtained her MFA in Studio Arts from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Herrera has exhibited extensively throughout California and nationally. She has been privileged to receive recognition for her work through various grants and has been published in various media including Peacock TV and Hulu. |
Artist Statement
My approach to sculpture is rooted in the aesthetics of the everyday. Serving 25 years in the Armed Forces, I directly experienced the global impact of the systematic destruction of the planet. Amid the devastation of combat, I had to confront the long term effects of conflict/war, including the exploitative, unsustainable, careless discarding of trash by the United States Military. This led me to question my own practices, hoping to lessen my environmental impact. I began photographing the vastness of neglected detritus that could be seen for miles. This soon led to building three-dimensional forms out of discarded objects and natural resources. |