Como La Flor

Like so many Latina girls, Selena had a huge impact on me. She was the first pop culture figure I saw who was truly bicultural—someone who was both American and deeply rooted in our culture. I had never seen anyone like her before. She could speak to both English- and Spanish-speaking audiences, and at a time when Latine people were nearly invisible in U.S. media—especially in the ’80s and ’90s—her presence was revolutionary.

Selena became an icon for so many of us. I was in high school when she was killed, and I remember the heartbreak of that moment. There were so few Latina artists in mainstream media back then, and her loss was devastating. It felt like we lost a part of ourselves.

I created this piece in her honor. It’s titled after one of her most iconic songs, and I made it as part of a group project at the Mission Cultural Center, under the mentorship of the incredible Juan R. Fuentes.

Juan is a legendary Chicano printmaker based in San Francisco’s Bayview. His work—centered on global colonialism, Palestine, and Latin American resistance—had a huge influence on me. He was a radical, a political artist through and through. Meeting him and working alongside him had a profound impact on my own artistic journey.

I was brought into this project by my friend, the artist and printmaker Jesus Barraza, and I was so excited to be part of a collective portfolio at the Mission Cultural Center. This piece was my contribution.

At the time, I was just beginning to explore screen printing, so I kept the design simple and bold. I used a few striking colors to honor Selena’s power and presence—and to reflect the enduring strength of her legacy.