Before anyone employed the term “multi-disciplinary practice” to describe their working profile, mothers were already balancing household management, emotional labor, education, and often an off-site job. Now add to that the demands of being an artist: the incessant drive to create, which pushes the artist to stay up late, wake up early, and fill their “free time” making. You get someone who ends up breaking down the boundaries between identities that are normally compartmentalized.
Diana Paz is part of this all-encompassing tradition: graphic designer, muralist, printer, business co-owner and new mother who has woven all aspects of her life into one fabulous celebration. Born in Maracaibo, Venezuela, in 1989, the PureHoney artist of the month looked to the country’s experimental modernists, including Oswaldo Vigas, Elsa Gramcko, and Carlos Cruz-Diez, as formative inspirations who understood that abstraction can spill off the canvas and into architecture, sculpture, and daily life.
Paz brings that expansive viewpoint to her own practice and to Studio Haz, the creative enterprise she shares with her partner, fellow street artist Baghead (Joshua Hall). Now, with motherhood reshaping her relationship to time and productivity, she’s discovering that the most interesting boundaries to push aren’t always artistic ones.
Paz also cites American predecessors such as Barry McGee and Margaret Kilgallen as major inspirations: “They developed distinct visual identities without losing their connection to the world around them. They found beauty in overlooked places and ordinary objects. I admire how Margaret celebrated women for their strength, intelligence, and abilities rather than traditional beauty standards.”
Opting to paint abstract murals rather than relying on typical street-art themes, such as the femme fatale, distinguishes Paz’s work. Creating public art, she says, “has the opportunity to reach a wide range of people, so I think about how it can connect with the space and the people who experience it. With a mural, I think about the overall scale, how it reads from a distance, and how it can relate to the surrounding space.”
She has been doing this work for years with Hall at Studio Haz, which they run together. “We met through mutual artist friends, and when we started dating, we were always creating together,” Paz says. ”It happened very naturally. We started collaborating on pieces, helping each other with projects and learning from each other along the way. Even when it was one person’s project, the other would usually be involved in some way, whether it was assisting, giving feedback, or helping develop an idea.”
Overall, Paz wants to help build community through her work, as do many muralists. She does this in many ways, including supporting South Florida’s annual Small Press Fair. “Small prints make art more accessible and give people a chance to connect with artists in a personal way,” she says. She works with music festivals, including Miami’s III Points.
“One of my favorite years is when Rosalía played; I created an outdoor installation using wood and acrylic, so getting to experience that work within that environment was a cool experience,” Paz recalls.”Music has always naturally found its way into my work, whether through a project or the atmosphere while I’m making something. Lately, I’ve been listening to LUX by Rosalía and Trying Times by James Blake.”
Given that Paz and Hall were already combining family and professional life, motherhood has naturally found its way into the mix, with Paz toting her baby on her hip as she works. “Motherhood adds another layer to figuring out time,” she says, “the physical side of the work, and even the expectations around what an artist’s life is supposed to look like. Becoming a mom has shifted my practice in ways I’m still discovering. Having my daughter with me while I work (when possible) has made me rethink what it means to create and be present at the same time.”
Adding another element to Paz’s portfolio, we can describe her as a philanthropist. She currently sells totes and t-shirts via her Instagram to support the recent earthquake victims in Venezuela.“I believe as artists, we have a responsibility to use our voices, our skills, and whatever platform we have to make a positive impact,” Paz says.
Follow Diana Paz on Instagram @pazdiana ~ Kelli Bodle
