This Latine Artist's Inner Child Inspires Her Chicago Murals

When Vanessa Garza, or Nez, as she's known professionally, started taking interest in art as a child, she never imagined her work would end up on the side of buildings, windows, and walls all over Chicago. Today, the Chicago native is best known for her cereal-box character, which has become a familiar illustration that highlights the city's vibrant Latine artist community as well as its contributions to the city's iconic art scene.

"I feel like it's definitely an advantage to be based in Chicago specifically for the art style I have," Garza says. "Character-based murals are not only understood, but embraced in the Chicago neighborhoods. The small businesses that represent the city have supported me and have given me a platform to continue to do what I love."

While Garza, who considers herself a character-based artist, primarily paints murals now, initially, she envisioned herself pursuing a more traditional style of painting. She started to take mural painting more seriously after high school when she created a mural for the "Mini Mural Project" in 2017. "I started out doing a couple of free walls just to get my [art] out there in the city," Garza says.

Her willingness to try something new became the catalyst for connecting with the local art scene and joining community group-shows. Social media also helped her create more connections, which led to more walls to paint. "Half of the projects and opportunities I have gotten have come from Instagram — from local businesses and brands wanting to incorporate [my] character and my art," Garza says.

When tackling these projects, Garza draws inspiration from the aesthetic, themes, and characters she loved as a kid, as well as the city itself. "The biggest inspiration for my work definitely comes from the street art and murals throughout Chicago," Garza says. "[As a kid] I was so curious about who painted the [city's] murals, how they got there, and how I could do something like that. That sense of wonder and curiosity really shaped my artistic perspective and direction. I give it a lot of credit for inspiring the type of artwork I ended up pursuing."

The wonderment she felt gazing at murals in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago have now inspired her to evoke those same feelings for those viewing her own artwork. "I love how my work is able to make people smile, or when I'm told that seeing my work has made someone's day," Garza says. But as much as her art brings joy to those around the city, it's also helped Garza herself, a self-proclaimed introvert, become a more outgoing and happy person. "I really credit my identity as an artist with bringing a lot of positivity into my everyday life," she says. "It's helped me keep a brighter outlook and not take everything so seriously. After all, it's hard to stay stressed when your job is to paint cute little characters."

Along with Garza's positivity, her passion for vibrant colors, memorable characters, and childhood nostalgia are evident in her latest collection of work, which features throwback toys from the early 2000s. "I find the most authentic, strongest pieces of work I've created have stemmed from making art I would have loved to have in my bedroom as a kid," Garza says.

Garza's heritage also comes through in her art from time to time, and it's something that helped inspire some of her earlier pieces. "Coming from a perspective of being third-generation and hispanic, I do feel some connection to having my background seep into my work at times," she says. "Before my art turned into what it is today, I participated in a lot of vendor markets in areas like Pilsen and Little Village, where I created art heavily inspired by my cultural heritage."

Although it was her dream to be on the side of a building Garza isn't stopping there in her artistic journey. "Many people have said my work reminds them of art styles similar to popular animated series," she says. "These comparisons have been really helpful in clarifying my future goals. Ultimately, seeing my character in a fully animated form would be amazing." Part of her recent career expansion includes working with major brands like Walmart, which has given her a platform to share her work with a larger audience and to help mentor other artists. In August of this year, she was a featured artist at a cultural arts fair brought to Chicago through a partnership with Beyond The Streets and Walmart.

When asked if she had any advice for her younger self, as well as young artists who also have dreams of painting murals, Garza stressed the importance of patience and consistency. "Keep showing up for yourself. The path becomes clearer once you find your unique style, and the only way to discover that is to keep creating," she says. "Embrace the journey, and remember that every experience — even the detours — are part of finding your artistic voice."