Featured Artist: Cenorina Ramirez

We are excited to feature Cenorina Ramirez. A Tucson-based artist, her work fuses bold poster-style prints with the striking language of pop art and typographic design. With each piece a statement, her illustration does more than speak — it amplifies, where color and form collide into magnificence.

Where are you from?

I was born in Mexico but grew up in Tucson, my family immigrated to Tucson in early 2000’s.

What got you started making art?

I started making art at a young age, I loved seeing beautiful animations and illustrations and wanted to create similar work so in elementary school I would copy Disney illustrations to test out and practice my drawing skills, plus it allowed me to calm my mind and stay occupied. Then throughout my later years in school I took art classes whenever I had the opportunity.

What’s your artistic background? (experience, education, etc.)

I’ve taken art classes since middle school. I took art classes all through high school and learned a bit about screen printing. I studied design at Pima Community College since it seemed like a practical career choice and then I transferred to California College of the Arts and studied Illustration since I figured it would help me learn more about communicating through visuals. Throughout my higher education I worked in design in various digital print and screen print shops and have been inspired by paper and print and screen print as an art form. I now work in museum art administration and have continued to create my own work though Mi Casita Press, what I call my personal experimental press, so art is pretty much part of my everyday.

Who or what are your biggest artists’ influences?

I was influenced by poster screen printers growing up, there’s no one in particular, but I enjoy looking at my local community and local designs. The print medium is just fascinating to me. While living in the Bay Area I was highly influenced by the zine community there.

Where do you get your inspiration for your art?

I am inspired by my everyday life. Most of the things I create contain messages I want to share with my friends and family so they inspire me the most.

What brought you to BICAS?

I saw some cool artists were part of BICAS Art Mart and decided to apply to the market. That’s how I learned about BICAS.

How has BICAS affected you?

I love the work that BICAS does. I’m very familiar with community and non-profit work and admire how accessible they are and their connection to the arts. I’ve been able to attend several of their art markets (three so far I think) and it is always a great time, I get to see a lot of people from the community I know as well as new faces, and have even made friends through their market BICAS is very accommodating, I think their work really aligns with the messages I get to create with Mi Casita Press.

Check out their Instagram and website for more of their work and for upcoming markets, and catch her during the Tucson Museum of Art’s First Thursdays (her day job)!

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