The lasting relationship between Ariel and her mother reflects at its core the strength of matrilineal love and the legacy it produces for generations to come. Art, as Ariel describes it, became both a creative outlet and a solution for everyday needs. “Growing up as the only child of a single mother who was an artist, our financial resources were limited,” reflects Ariel. “However, that did not stop us from having – or making – everything we needed. I’ll never forget coming home from school one day and finding that my mom had made me a pair of moccasins out of a piece of recycled suede. She regularly made magic with the little that we had and I’m forever grateful for that.” 

An artful approach to life became not only an asset, a creative resource by which to approach needs and create a new reality, but it also informed Ariel’s early sense of community, of her magnanimity as it pertains to communities in need. “[My mother] also had a keen sensitivity to those who were marginalized or overlooked, and that has inspired me to find ways to raise awareness for important issues or communities through my work.”

“I believe that it is the responsibility of artists and creatives to envision the world we want to live in and to do our part to make that vision a reality. I hope my work helps people find more beauty in the world around them and in themselves.”