My name is Heyly Ramirez, I am a NYC based artist. I was born in Bogota, Colombia and raised in New York . My mom went around the block in the neighborhood because it was a superstitious belief that it would lead to traveling , and a short time later she managed to bring her 5 kids to the U.S. I was brought to the U.S when I was 7. I am the second youngest out of five children. Having so many siblings brought me chaos throughout my upbringing, but also unconditional love, support and friendship. We had all kinds of pets growing up from dogs, to parrots, tarantulas, lizards, iguanas, snakes , and more ! Being exposed and being in the presence of different life forms , being taught it’s okay to love unconventional creatures really taught me the beauty of “connecting” and “communicating” beyond words. It has also given me insight into the unspoken language found in nature. The animals in my life and my connection to them have definitely been impactful to everything that I do. A perfect example of that, fast forward to today- is my dog laying beside me while I create every single painting. He is truly part of the artistry. I have always had a deep interest in art, winning art awards in school when I was younger. I went to school in Long Island, NY but was always drawn by NYC , and moved to Astoria, Queens right after high school with my sister. We had amazing years of submerging ourselves into beautiful cultures and developing long time friendships, many through hardships at work in the hospitality industry. Self expression has been a big part of my life and something that has always been extremely important to me , sometimes through fashion, poetry, drawing and painting. I have always loved drawing, sometimes I would find myself making drawings even on napkins while working at different nightclubs and restaurants , trying to make the best out of an environment that I couldn’t really connect with. When I am not at home painting , I love visiting galleries and museums. I also love spending time outdoors, and in nature hoping anything I take in visually can enhance my creativity and connect me to what really matters. Taking in naturally existing colors and formations from the earth really grounds me and reminds me that the possibilities are endless, that I am just a grain of sand and whatever I create goes far beyond me. It reminds me of the power and unimaginable craftsmanship that has gone into creating the world that we live in , and the details that are sometimes overseen. I love experiences and views that make me feel small. I love being grounded, being proven wrong, being introduced to new sets of beliefs, and being able to share that in non obvious ways through art. My preferred medium for painting has always been acrylic paint ,because of its fast drying abilities, although some of my pieces do include oil as well. All I have learned has been through my own exploration and curiosity with creating. I go through many phases with each of my pieces, sometimes going from loving it, hating it , but ultimately to the point where I fell in love with it again . That is usually when I know that the journey for that piece has come to an end. I love being able to share that with others. A big motivation for me is the unraveling of my own cluttered mind and I feel like I found the perfect marriage for that process through creating abstract pieces. 2023 has been a big year for creativity for me. I have had such a strong pull for isolation , preserving my energy and turning it into something beautiful. I do not have all of the answers to life but somehow it feels like the more I create the closer I am to finding them , to connecting every dot.

I truly believe in the “ bigger picture “ where all those little events, feelings, emotions , that made no sense at the time of their occurrence but all come together and bring about a beautiful revelation, a perfectly crafted story. I have always taken all that comes at me inwards, and creating through experience has been the one consistent thing that has brought me purpose. Even at my worst moments it always feels like an obligation to bleed art- hoping one day it will all make sense. My self expression has showcased itself throughout my life through writing and painting. When I’m too timid or simply cannot find the words, I rely on the unspoken language of creating abstract paintings that truly tell similar stories for those willing to understand and read through the lines and imagery. When I am painting it is truly a transcendental meditative experience where I finally get to silence my overactive thoughts and just become present while my subconscious takes over and goes to work. I believe my art tells a story of where I’ve been, where I am, what I am, and what I aspire to be. Even deeper than that, I believe it tells a story of interconnectivity, a story of the universe, of life, the simplicity and the complicated parts. I feel like I not only learn about myself but also about the world and about others when I look into my art, and I want to share that with the world.

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