Latina Artist Talks About Her Inspiration Behind Her Dollar Paintings and More

I’ve always been heavy into my Puerto Rican roots since going to the parade every year with my mom as a kid, but Bushwick is where I grew up. It feels weird saying that now because the Bushwick that people know now is not the one I grew up in. The Bushwick I grew up in was rich with culture and love. Don’t let anyone tell you different. A lot of my work, well at least the stuff that I am most passionate about definitely reflects my culture as a Boricua and our experiences both on the island and the diaspora. However, most of my photography focuses on my experiences growing up in Bushwick.

 

Before you start setting off your fireworks, chomping on your hotdogs and waving the flag of the oppressor, take a second to soak this in...This is what colonization looks like on Puerto Rico. This is statehood. This is our future if we don't do what is necessary now, at this moment. We cannot let them erase our culture. Take the time to learn our history under the fist of the United States and learn for yourselves the things that they never taught us in school. #CoñodespiertaBoricua #puertoricandebtcrisis #puertoRicoUnderColonialRule #FreePuertoRico #LearnOurHistory #PuertoRicanPride #AguaDeCoco #BombaYPlena #RichCulture #WhereIsOurIndependence? #independenceForWho #Merica #vejigantemask #jibarito #palcarajolajunta #seacabaronlaspromesas #FistUp #resist

A post shared by Danielle De Jesus (@danielledejesus1) on Jul 3, 2017 at 8:49am PDT

I usually paint what I am passionate about most and stories that I want to tell. A lot of people don’t want to pick up a book and learn about our culture, which is fine, but that’s where my art comes in. It gives you a quick history lesson or maybe even teaches you about current events, without having to pick up a book. You see the painting, and hopefully, it tells you a little bit about what I am portraying. I love my people very much so I paint them and their stories every chance that I get. As far as the pop culture paintings, those are mostly just movies and characters that I like and paint them for my followers and me to enjoy.

This painting came to me the first time I heard "Freedom" by @anthonyramosofficial. That song touched me to the depths of my soul, and this image quickly formed in my mind. We're living through difficult times, and at times it feels as though we are moving backwards. POC suffer under the hands of this U.S government every single day, whether on the mainland or a territory. We get criminalized for things that others get smacked on the wrist for. People locked up for marijuana charges while others openly exploit it, petty crimes with heavy fines based on their skin. If you think slavery is over and we're all equal, you have a lot of learning to do. This morning I passed by a correction facility as I do every day, and saw two prisoners with a guard sweeping the street side walk. I almost cried as I imagined my own father. These men in the bitter cold with nothing but their prison uniforms sweeping for free because life dealt them a difficult hand. I can't shake off how I'm feeling today. I feel so helpless. I want to do more."The United States is home to 5% of the worlds population, but 25% of the worlds prisoners, think about that"-Obama "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter".-Dr. Martin Luther king Jr #Freedom #WhatIsFreedom #FreedomForWho #MartinLutherKingJr #HeHadADream #ButItsNotThisReality #FuckTrump #FuckRacist #fuckWhiteSupremacy #BlackLivesMatter #shaunKing#KeepBlackAndBrownBodiesOutOfThePrisonSytem #AmericanFlag #PrisonerWithoutCuffs #latinxCreate

A post shared by Danielle De Jesus (@danielledejesus1) on Jan 15, 2018 at 7:40am PST

Definitely dollar bills. My work is very political. Whether I am painting a cute cartoon character or telling the story of Puerto Rico’s struggle under colonial rule, it’s all political when it’s on money. People put too much value on a piece of paper. I like to take that power and make people see it differently. The Etch a Sketch is just a fun toy that I love to play with and happen to be pretty good at. The dominos began when I felt so helpless and needed to raise money to help my people after hurricane Maria. I painted a few and decided to sell them to raise money to help people on the island. I also helped curate a show at a gallery in Brooklyn called Grumpy Bert where a bunch of my incredible artist friends donated work to raise money too.

 

My apologies for the lack of post. My beloved, and intensely loved island of Puerto Rico has been through the worst natural disaster in its modern history and it has crushed my heart into a million pieces. I've been feeling helpless, desperate, wanting to do anything I can to help. I have a headache that won't go away, I'm tired and my heart hurts for my people, yet there's a piece of dog shit sitting in the white house doing nothing to help us. I am going to Puerto Rico in a few weeks and I want to bring cash and small goods with me so I am making these small paintings on dominos along with other small items that will be available for purchase soon. 2 out of 3 of these are sold out, but I am making more and will open an online shop where I will sell them and 100% of the money is going to Puerto Rico. Te amo Puerto Rico, nos levantaremos uno a otro, Pa lante simpre mi isla bella #QueVivaPuertoRico #PuertoRicoLibre #FuckdonaldTrump #HelpPuertoRico #Flamboyan #PuertoRicanParrot #BombaYPlena #dominos #SupportPuertoRico #PuertoRicanPride #TeAmo #Palante

A post shared by Danielle De Jesus (@danielledejesus1) on Sep 26, 2017 at 8:33am PDT

Yes, I do. I do not sell my Puerto Rico work though. Only prints and extremely limited. I am hoping to display the entire collection together when I feel it is ready. Its purpose is to educate and I am very passionate about it.

So excited about this Frida that I just finished She will be available at @spreadartnyc #500BuckShow opening this Friday Sept 8th through the weekend If you're in NYC, come by and check out some amazing art!! #fridakahlo #Flowers #MexicanArtist #LatinxArtist #diegoandfrida #WomenArtist #Frida #Mexico

A post shared by Danielle De Jesus (@danielledejesus1) on Sep 4, 2017 at 4:00pm PDT

I really love the painting I did portraying Gag law 53 in which Puerto Ricans were not allowed to own a Puerto Rican flag, sing any patriotic songs or hold any assembly in support of independence. Yes the United States did that.

 

My mother was almost two years old when the gag law was enacted in Puerto Rico. Gag law 53 of 1948 was a bill that was signed into law that made it illegal to own or display a Puerto Rican flag, sing a Puerto Rican patriotic tune, speak or write of independence, or hold any assembly in support of independence from the U.S. During the time the law was enacted, many nationalist were arrested for simply owning a flag and were sent to prison for years as a result. It lasted for 9 years until it was repealed for being unconstitutional and violating people's first amendment rights on the island. This painting is a representation of the love our people have for our island of Puerto Rico regardless of any colonial power. Nothing can get in the way of our pride, that's why we hold our flag above any other. Aunque naciera en la luna.... #PuertoRico #PuertoRicanPride #gagLaw #FreePuertoRico #IndependenceForPuertoRico #Boriken #aunquenacieraenlaluna #PRlibre #latinxscreate #latinaartist #acrylic #PRisNOTdespacito

A post shared by Danielle De Jesus (@danielledejesus1) on Aug 21, 2017 at 7:38am PDT

I get lots of different opinions and feedback from my followers on Instagram, but mostly positive. I have several different demographics in my following so it gets a little complicated sometimes. I have kids and teens who follow me for my Hamilton and Disney art and then I have followers who follow me for my more in your face political work. Then there are those who just enjoy my work in general which is awesome. Pleasing everyone is impossible, so I just paint what makes me happy and hope that it makes someone else happy too. I do get a lot of “oh my gosh, I could have bought something with that dollar!” and it’s gotten real old real fast though!

 

Who else saw Coco?!! It's definitely my new favorite!!! Loved it SO MUCH!! All of that beautiful colorful art, the storyline, everything!! I even low key enjoyed the Frozen short Haha! Also, did I mention it made me Ugly cry?! Go See Coco!!! #DisneysCoco #pixarcoco #ErnestoDelacruz #MiguelandHector #DiaDeLosMuertos #Disneyfanart #PixarFanArt #Coco #AnthonyGonzalez #gaelgarciabernal #BeautifulCulture #Latinxcreate #Mexico #benjaminbratt #seizeYourMoment

A post shared by Danielle De Jesus (@danielledejesus1) on Nov 28, 2017 at 6:20am PST

Prepare for a super cliché answer, but my heart. It’s extremely difficult for me to paint something that I do not feel personally connected to or love in some kind of way. I’ll take a commission here and there to pay the bills, but my best work comes from my heart. This is why I am most proud of my Puerto Rico work. My whole heart, mind, and soul go into each one of those pieces. They’re a part of me.

A little switch up from my money art The gorgeous, brilliant human that is @ethereal.1 This Boricua hermana inspires so many women, including myself, and I admire her so much for that. Also she's from Brooklyn so that automatically makes her dope af This portrait was quite challenging for me and I loved every second of it. It's acrylic on 20x10 inch wood panel which is different than what I'm used to painting on, both in the surface and size. I've been trying to get better at making bigger paintings because they're not my strong point at all. I'm slowly, but surely getting there though. I look back at large portraits that I made in 2015, and it's nice to see an improvement, BUT still got ways to go! #SelfTaughtArtistStruggles #IfYouLoveSomethingDoItEveryday #BrooklynGirl #RealBrooklynite #noneOfThatColumbusingOverHere #BrooklynAgainstGentrification #latina #Boricua #Rolos #TropicalPlants #LatinxCreate #Brooklyn

A post shared by Danielle De Jesus (@danielledejesus1) on Jan 18, 2018 at 7:24am PST

I think the most challenging paintings for me are the Disney ones. One wrong move and it’s over,

Had so much fun painting this piece!!! first time cutting a bill #MonstersInc #Pixar #Disney #Disneyfans #PixarFans #DisneyFanArt #PixarFanart #Boo #mikewazowski #Sulley #monstersuniversity #RandyNewman #mikeandsulley#ChildDetectionAgency #TheScreamExtractor

A post shared by Danielle De Jesus (@danielledejesus1) on Sep 1, 2017 at 3:56pm PDT

As of right now, I don’t have anything coming up, but I am actively painting every day. I have a few things up my sleeve, but I can’t really talk about them here. What I can tell you though is that they will be very political and possibly offensive to those who do not share similar political beliefs. I mean, but what’s art if you can’t ruffle a few feathers and raise a few eyebrows, right?

So excited for one of my favorite shows of the year The @grumpybert Red Envelope show that opens February 23rd!! The show celebrates Chinese New Year with a display of various artist who have painted on traditional Red Envelopes! This is the first of 3 pieces that I will have in the show. I look forward to seeing all of the great work that will be in it this year!! This is the year of the Dog, so I decided to paint Lady and the Tramp with a NYC gritty twist. *Confession, Disney characters are the most challenging for me to paint * Had a blast painting this though! And yes there are both real and fake broken dollar bills in this piece! #LadyAndTheTramp #DisneyFanArt #NewYorkCity #Money #love #Disneyart #trash #americancockerspaniel #TonysItalianRestaurant #PupsInLove #redenvelope #DisneyMovies #GrumpyBert #RedEnvelopeShow #ChineseNewYear #YearOfTheDog

A post shared by Danielle De Jesus (@danielledejesus1) on Jan 25, 2018 at 7:55am PST