By: Mia Angulo
Mikayla Gutierrez is an established artist in Visalia. She draws inspiration from her Latino background to create meaningful artwork. Her art is expressed in many different forms from paintings to body art.
You may have seen some of Gutierrez’s work around town. For instance, her mural at the Visalia Cemetery was quite a large project that has been featured in the local newspaper. Gutierrez says, “My experience painting a 40 foot mural at the cemetery was amazing. Large-scale work is so much fun, as it is creative and physical at the same time. It was pretty emotional for me since I had never created something so grand before, especially for the public cemetery. That mural was definitely a big achievement for me not only as an artist but as a person.”. The butterfly that is painted on the storefront of Ziayas is also a well-known photo-op spot in downtown Visalia that was painted by Gutierrez.
Gutierrez is inspired by anything that sparks emotion within her. Her creative mind is drawn to music and anything that moves her emotionally. Music and comedy are two of the many of her creative influences. “ I love the work of Tyler the Creator, Kali Uchis, again anything that makes me feel deeply. I’m also very inspired by my peers, especially other Latino/a artists”, states Gutierrez.
Artists like Frida Khalo, Wassily Kandisky, and Salvador Dali helped shape Gutierrez’s artistic direction. When a creative spark comes to Gutierrez, she has a simple creative process to help get her started. She just goes with the flow. If she finds herself stuck in a creative rut, she uses photography. She describes photography as the root of all her artwork. Gutierrez will go out and explore and take pictures of anything that catches her eye. Her images provide a source to help inspire her creativity.
Gutierrez has always had a passion for art ever since she was little. She has always looked up to her mom and grandmother. They were the first two people to ignite the passion Gutierrez has for art, she states, “It started when I was young because I watched my mom draw and sketch and my grandma was also very creative. My grandma loved anything creative, from sewing to painting and building furniture. Being around them constantly surrounded me with supplies, which helped light the spark for my desire to create.”. The early exposure to art and the creative process left Gutierrez never finding herself wandering far from it. Art is her life. It is also a very big part of her story and the choices that she makes artistically. Looking towards the future, it’s very evident that Gutierrez will continue to work each and every day at her craft. In doing so, it is clear that she is open to seeking out new opportunities to grow her passion for art in all forms that cross her path.
Not only does Gutierrez create paintings, but she has also been putting her artistic skills into a new medium, tattoos. “I started getting into tattoos because my parents both have them. I was around it since I was young, then when I met my partner Esequiel Gomez, he had been in the industry for 3 years. He helped guide me into finding what was right for me as a tattoo artist and I’ve been falling more in love with it every day. I’ve always wanted tattoos, and I’ve always wanted a job where I can create art for a living. All of those factors made it feel right for me to step into it.”
All artists have their own individual experiences within the industry. However, what they all seem to have in common is that the journey to their growth is oftentimes hand in hand with how they evolve and grow as a person. When asked to reflect on her greatest achievement and what she has learned throughout her journey as a growing artist, Gutierrez responded, “My proudest achievement is probably the fact that I have sacrificed so much and put myself out there to make my art career work for me. It takes courage, hope, strength, and a strong belief to put yourself out there as an artist and make it work. And on top of that, remaining true to yourself as a person.”
If you would like to see more of Mikayla Gutierrez’s work you can follow her Instagram@ mikaylamgutierrez
Mia Angulo
Mia Angulo, ‘24, is in her fourth year of writing and her third year as an editor for the Redwood Gigantea. Mia is a member of the Redwood Law and Justice Academy, Hip Hop and Yoga Club. Mia is passionate about dance and writing and hopes to continue to do both in the future.
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