“My authenticity has never been to exist singularly, whether in regard to my gender, my ethnicity, or sexual orientation. My truth thrives in the gray area…”

—Martine Gutierrez

In this self-portrait, the artist explores perceptions of cultural identity, history, and fashion, directly calling out the long history of mainstream fashion appropriating Indigenous cultures. The work is an immersion into the artist’s world, exploring her Mayan heritage and Guatemalan American ethnicity. Gutierrez takes inspiration from ancient Aztec deities that embody historical models of duality and gender fluidity.