Biography
Ariella Sanchez is a Puerto Rican/Salvadoran artist from Bridgeport, CT, who has always been a passionate creator. Her journey into the arts began in her teens after a transformative experience with a close friend, igniting a love for sketching and abstract expression. Known for her intricate lines and geometric designs, Ariella developed a unique style that speaks to both emotion and structure.
Though she initially pursued psychology, driven by family expectations, she left college after a year. For over a decade, she worked in collections, finding financial success but yearning for something more meaningful. In 2022, after courageously leaving a seven-year career and a domestic violence relationship, Ariella made the bold decision to fully embrace her passion for the arts—a decision that led to the happiest and most fulfilling chapter of her life.
Ariella returned to college, now pursuing a degree in Fine Arts/Photography, with plans to graduate in 2025. Her ultimate goal is to attend the prestigious School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) for her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, where she hopes to push the boundaries of her creative potential and inspire others through her work.
Artist Statement
Ariella works with a variety of artistic mediums, primarily focusing on photography and painting. Her art centers around human connections and the diverse perspectives we each hold on various topics. Drawing from her personal experiences, Ariella uses photography and painting to explore and express themes such as homelessness, embracing one's sexuality, and the complexities of love.
In her work, Ariella incorporates personal interviews, allowing the audience to engage with real people and their stories. This approach fosters a deep connection, making the experiences she portrays relatable to others. By combining photography, paintings, and audio, she creates a multi-sensory experience that evokes strong emotional responses, immersing the viewer in real-life events through an artistic lens.
When photographing, Ariella creates compositions that resonate with her emotions at the moment. This could be a sense of liberation, captured in images of flight, or the dread of conflict, depicted in scenes of protest. Her work is a documentation of human emotions and experiences, reflecting her own feelings and the stories of those she encounters.
Ariella's journey as an artist has been shaped by her travels and experiences in the art world. Visiting places like Greece, Los Angeles, Paris, and Chicago, she encountered the artworks she had studied extensively, transforming her art history studies into deeply personal and emotional journeys. Seeing these pieces in person granted her a profound appreciation and understanding of art's true essence.