Maricel Reid

Maricel Reid (1993) is a multifaceted artist that was born in Tagum, Philippines and raised on Maui, Hawai’i. Now living in San Jose, California, Reid will obtain her BA in Studio Practice at San Jose State University in late May 2019. As an artist, Reid enjoys the freedom that she is able to express through a wide variety of mediums, such as ink, ceramics, paper, and photography. With these materials, she is able to work on her theme of female sexuality in a stimulating, creative, and influential way.

Reid focuses on this particular theme for her artwork due to society’s preference of women during the 90’s and early 2000’s. When Reid was growing up, the ideal figure of a woman that was portrayed in the media would be super-model thin like Naomi Campbell and Kate Moss. That pressure from the media and peers made Reid and other girls around the world feel like they were not suitable for the public’s tastes, which resulted in a decline in self- confidence. After years of insecurity, Reid learned to accept herself and the beauty in all types of women and adopted a stronger poise. With her artwork, she hopes to encourage aplomb in all women who feel burdened by social media and society with typical beauty standards.

Into the Depths, showing at Monterey Museum of Art-La Mirada (May 4-5 and May 11, 2019), will be Reid’s first museum exhibition. Taking a different approach from her usual mediums and subject, Reid’s piece, Artificial Parasites, will be communicating the dangers of plastics in the ocean and how it affects marine life. Sculpting a single turtle out of Styrofoam and injecting straws into the body, Reid wants the viewer to see that the negligence of humans and synthetic waste will result in numerous species dying due to plastic consumption.