Fragmenta. Papilionis. Legatum.

Fragmenta, Papilionis, Legatum is a self-portrait triptych that reflects the cultural, racial, and religious influences that have shaped me, while also representing my decision to break generational cycles through reclamation and celebration of these very influences.
The title, translated from Latin as “The Legacy of a Butterfly’s Fragments,” references the ancestral language that connects both English and Spanish. The butterfly symbolizes transformation, fragility, and rebirth — mirroring my journey of reconstructing identity from inherited fragments.
Each panel represents a lineage — my mother, my father, and myself — and together, they tell a story of legacy, influence, and renewal. The triptych format itself is a nod to religious altarpieces, reflecting how faith and spirituality have structured my cultural experience. Embedded within the central frame are pieces of my grandmother’s rosary — an offering to ancestry and the sacred feminine.
The right panel, Fragmenta, represents my father. The frame integrates motifs from Manzanillo and Spain, featuring the iconic Manzanillo sailfish statue (Pez Vela by Sebastian) crowned to symbolize patriarchal authority. The structure’s rigid, geometric design and the inclusion of spear-like forms reference masculinity and machismo — forces that shaped, and at times confined, my understanding of identity.
The left panel, Legatum, honors my mother. Its frame combines architectural elements from Guadalajara and Spain, reimagining the Guadalajara coat of arms with a flower in place of the conquistador and without the lions. The tree’s roots have been transformed into the shape of a uterus — a recurring symbol of motherhood, fertility, and feminine strength.
The center panel, Papilionis, represents me — the butterfly born of these two worlds. The wooden frame contains two spiral forms, resembling butterfly antennae, that border the focal point which mimics the shape of a cross without fully forming one. This is representative of how religion is an undeniable influence in my culture, yet devotion is something I now direct toward selfhood, creativity, and healing.
My use of mixed media mirrors the hybridity of my identity. The layering of wood, clay, paint, and pigment becomes an act of synthesis — uniting differing materials as I unite my intersecting selves. Through this process, I reclaim what has been fragmented by history, assimilation, and patriarchy, transforming chaos into continuity and heritage into self-definition.