Vanessa Mercedes Aguilar Harriss was born in 1995 and grew up in Sacramento California. Harriss graduated with a degree in visual arts from The Evergreen State College in Olympia Washington, after transferring from California State University Sacramento and Kansas State University. Harriss is a Chicana artist who is reconnecting with her Indigenous Nahua heritage through art, and language.
Magical Realism and Surrealism heavily influence Harriss' work, she finds inspiration from fellow Indigenous, Latinx, & Queer artists and writers. One of her greatest influences is her grandmother Rachel, who passed down her love for artistic crafts. Her grandmother also passed down stories from her experiences growing up Chicana in central California in the 1960's with her mother Lucy and family. Hearing these stories and superstitions, often warnings of things unseen or memories from the past, gave Harriss the active and visual imagination she has to this day.
Harriss is currently living in Tacoma Washington. She lives with her husband and two pugs Aegon (pictured above) and Benjen, and is continuously pursuing artistic opportunities.
Magical Realism and Surrealism heavily influence Harriss' work, she finds inspiration from fellow Indigenous, Latinx, & Queer artists and writers. One of her greatest influences is her grandmother Rachel, who passed down her love for artistic crafts. Her grandmother also passed down stories from her experiences growing up Chicana in central California in the 1960's with her mother Lucy and family. Hearing these stories and superstitions, often warnings of things unseen or memories from the past, gave Harriss the active and visual imagination she has to this day.
Harriss is currently living in Tacoma Washington. She lives with her husband and two pugs Aegon (pictured above) and Benjen, and is continuously pursuing artistic opportunities.
contact through email or social media:
harriss.vanessa@aol.com
instagram: @vanessamercedes.art
harriss.vanessa@aol.com
instagram: @vanessamercedes.art