MEET THE ARTIST
Hi, I'm Josie.
I’m a Chicana artist, author, and the creator behind PNW Chicana Creations. I create art inspired by culture, childhood memories, and the everyday moments that stay with us. What began as a way to create the representation I wished I had growing up has become a way to help others feel seen, connected, and proud of their own stories.
Self-Taught Artist
I built my creative practice through curiosity, experimentation, and a whole lot of learning as I went.
First-Gen College Grad
My own path shaped my belief that where we come from doesn’t determine where we can go.
Art Rooted in Real Life
Family, culture, childhood memories, and everyday moments are at the heart of what I create.
I started creating the things I wish little Josie could have seen.
Where it started
I was born in Los Angeles and spent my early childhood surrounded by people who looked like me, but I didn’t grow up thinking much about being Mexican or Chicana. It simply wasn’t something we talked about. My grandmother’s generation had learned that assimilation was often necessary to survive, so much of our culture lived quietly in the background.
Ironically, it wasn’t until I moved to Oregon that I began to understand that part of myself more deeply.
In Oregon, my culture became more visible to me in a way it hadn’t been before. Maybe because there were fewer people who looked like me, the things that once blended into everyday life suddenly stood out. Through family, community, music, food, and the people around me, I became more connected to a part of myself I hadn’t really known how to name before.
Over time, that connection became something I carried with pride. It shaped how I saw myself, the communities I found, and eventually, the kind of art I wanted to create.
For the stories we carry.
I believe there’s value in the ordinary moments that shape us. My hope is that the art I create helps someone recognize a piece of themselves, remember something they thought they’d forgotten, or simply feel a little more seen.