Aida Nicole Lugo Cantu is a multidisciplinary artist and educator from Southern California. Aida attended Otis College of Art and Design for a Bachelor’s of fine Art in Sculpture New Genres and Community Arts Engagement. Currently, Aida works out of the American Museum for Ceramic Art’s studio in her hometown of Pomona, CA and works at the museum in various capacities. 

 

In my work, I use clay to connect with my ancestors and the Earth. Clay has been used by humans for thousands of years and I find it a strong grounding medium for this reason. When I work with clay, I become a channel for my ancestors' messages. In my work, I explore themes such as ancestral guidance, Earth and its people, colonization, missing history and artists as clown, jester or entertainment yet judged for our absurdity and questioned for our offering to society. Working with clay brings up for me a deep desire for knowledge of our soul’s history, of our people's history beyond human understanding and our position here on the planet being to rediscover this truth for ourselves. Despite the oppressive forces of society, capitalism, colonized religion etc, on the inside we are true and free and beauty is within. Ceramics allows me the freedom to work creatively with a variety of clay bodies and surface outcomes. I enjoy working very painterly with clay and drawing in three dimensions with form. My work intends to help decolonize the narrative that primitive people were savages. I use Aztec and other indigenous images and artifacts to inform my work. Looking to ancient ways to promote a future of living in harmony with nature, ourselves and each other.

 

In my practice of making and meditation, I use clay to connect with my ancestors, and the Earth, harnessing the power of clay's rich history to ground myself. When I work with clay, I become a channel for my ancestors' messages. Ceramics allows me the freedom to work creatively with a variety of clay bodies and surface outcomes. I enjoy creating sculptures and working very painterly with clay while drawing in three dimensions with form. I want my work to help decolonize the narrative that primitive people were savages and I reference Pre- Columbian art and other indigenous images and artifacts in my sculptures. I explore themes such as ancestral guidance, colonization, capitalism, colonized religion, missing history and examine the artist's role and archetype in the world, as clown, jester or entertainer, judged for our absurdity and catechized for our offering to society. I want my work to memorialize and centralize indigenous stories while offering visions of hope and beauty while still spreading awareness and illustrating the oppressive forces of society. Looking to ancient ways to promote a future of living in harmony with nature, ourselves and each other.