#56 – What Do We Inherit and What Do We Share? | Kiara-Maribel Rivera

Artist Kiara-Maribel Rivera joins the podcast. In this conversation, Rivera reflects on how her family’s migration and history shaped her identity and her creative work. She shares how her mother’s careful habit of saving photos, report cards, and awards helped her feel connected to her roots. Rivera discusses using art to examine memory, family archives, and the fragments of stories lost along the way. Rivera talks about the challenges of adapting to new places and navigating art school. Rivera describes learning how to preserve and honor the past while creating something new. Rivera opens up about the care needed when working with personal and family records, and how art becomes a way to explore belonging and heritage.

Topics Covered:

• The influence of family migration and history on Rivera’s art
• Growing up surrounded by photos, documents, and personal archives
• Using art to explore memory, loss, and connection
• The challenges and opportunities of art school as a first-generation student
• Balancing privacy, care, and community when working with personal histories
• Honoring heritage and identity through creative practice

Curious to discover more? Follow Kiara’s creative work and journey online.

The Truth In This Art is supported by William G. Baker, Jr. Memorial Fund, the Maryland State Arts Council's Creativity Grant and Mayor's Individual Artist Award - Creative Baltimore Fund (Baltimore). 

Host: Rob Lee
Music: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis.
Production:

• Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel Alexis
• Edited by Daniel Alexis
• Show Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and Transistor

Photos:

• Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.
• Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.

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