Born and busy in the Bronx, Cristina Acevedo is a Nuyorican mixed media artist and educator, who has been working and showing in NYC for over 7 years. Currently, her practice heavily involves the mixture of drawing and painting, but has periodically expanded into her love for working with plaster caste, collage, and creative writing.

In earlier works, Acevedo used this variety of materials to investigate the concept of trauma and its affects on human development. She transformed these mannerisms, habits, and coping mechanisms into physical adaptations for the creature she calls La Vejiccubus. This inherently feminine creature was the combination of the Western lore of Succubus, tied with the features of the Vejigante, a mythical creature found in Borinquen culture. These Vejiccubus hybrids would be seen in her depictions as undercover agents, living amongst the human race, developing different adaptations as a means of survival.

Over time, these illustrations have shifted. Now, through the juxtaposition of Taino legends, Christian iconography, and Mysticism, Acevedo’s work has become a record of these almost biblical entities, and their legends. Some reoccurring characters include the goddesses known as Atabey and Guabancex, whose duality she commonly refers to as the “Mother” and the “Mayhem”. These more deliberate allegories even maintain Acevedo’s use of La Vejiccubus, now depicted as the appointed Cemi of humanity; the “Maiden”. Yes, it is a Holy Trinity. But just like all ancient religions, there are more entities and connections that make up the human condition. Take the other Ancestrals, Life and Death; a pair of star crossed lovers inspired by Acevedo’s own journey through long-term partnership.

“I have been told that my work can be seen as blasphemous to the institutions of the Catholic/Christian religions, however I will invite those who pass judgement on this initial impression, to give further thought to the context of these allegories…it is my Catholic upbringing that not only taught me the importance of profound storytelling, but the deeply rooted ethics that I hold for life.

In this waking world, we are all sinners, outcasts, and fallen ones. We are born this way, and so it is therefore not only our duty, but our moral obligation, to support one another in facing our shadows and demons, and provide compassion to all those who struggle through that journey. For how can we have that grace for others if we do not give grace towards ourselves?”