Isaac Tapia

I am a muralist, painter and teaching artist based in Kansas City, Missouri. I explore the many aesthetic experiences of migration through my paintings, fusing classical techniques of European portraiture with the bright colors, textures and patterns of my childhood in Mexico and the fluid imagery found in animation and street art that inspired me as an adolescent in the United States. My portraits are visual tributes to the many stories of struggle and triumph within my community.  The faces-and stories-within my work expand upon existing narratives about representation and identity. By visually elevating those often overlooked by society, I honor their journeys and celebrate the moments of joy, resilience, resistance and peace that accompany survival.