^{Photographed by Jimena Peck.}  

Biography

Monica Curiel (b. 1993, Dallas, Texas) is a first-generation Mexican American multidisciplinary artist who uses construction materials to honor the craftsmanship inherited from her parents and blends elements of 'art' and 'design' to challenge conventional categories. By emphasizing materials and textures over vibrant colors traditionally associated with Mexican or Mexican American art, she subverts stereotypes tied to her cultural background.

Curiel earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Kansas in 2021. In 2024, she was recognized on Dwell Magazine’s Dwell 24, and in 2023, she was included in Sight Unseen’s American Design Hot List. Her work has been exhibited in notable shows such as This Is America at Alcova during Milan Design Week in 2022 and Art In The Time Of Corona™ on Artsy in 2021.

Curiel’s art reclaims spaces tied to her identity, exploring themes of memory, labor, and cultural identity. Her practice invites a reinterpretation of what constitutes art and design within contemporary discourse.