Who is behind Kachina Mami?

Veronica Larrea Chandler’s emotion-provoking artwork is inspired by her roots as an Ecuadorian, her time spent studying graphic design in Buenos Aires, Argentina and her current home, North Wilmington, DE.

Being discovered and awarded the opportunity to showcase her artwork in British Vogue (issue date January 27, 2022) was not only a shock because of the magnitude of exposure of being in such a prestigious publication, but also because Veronica’s journey as a painter only began during the pandemic in March 2020.

Like a majority of the world, the pandemic initiated a spectrum of uncomfortable feelings but for Veronica, the panic attacks, anxiety, fear and depression were not unfamiliar as she had battled postpartum depression for 2 years following the birth of her second baby leading directly into the pandemic. Channeling her emotions through painting was her only medicine.

Veronica’s Kachina (a deified ancestral spirit in the mythology of the indigenous Pueblo people; Native-Americans from southwestern USA) series (including her British Voguepublished work “Priestess of Light”) was inspired by these struggles and a divinely guided solo trip she took to Arizona when she discovered Kachina dolls.

“I was overwhelmingly captivated by their (Kachina dolls) powerful symbolism.” Veronica saw representations of healing, blessings from a higher power, a connection to nature and Mother Earth, and a portrayal of the strength and empowerment of women. “The native Kachina dolls awakened a deep bond to my native country and a primal connection to my indigenous ancestors and my own heritage.”

Look closely at the details of her art to discover the native symbolism incorporated throughout and take a moment with each piece. Veronica’s mission is to invoke a sense of healing, blessings from a higher power, a connection to nature and Mother Earth, and to portray the strength and empowerment of women. Chandler’s creations also include many bird pieces due to their representation of the connection to her ancestral spirituality.

By Ashley Brooke Sachs