Painting Outside The Lines: Meet Queer Houston Artist Stephanie Gonzalez

By Autumn Rendall

From the moment you step into artist Stephanie Gonzalez’s Houston studio, your eyes are drawn in every direction: from her in-progress project made from thrown-away papers, to her latest sculpture, “The Scissor Sisters,” a statement on how men often view lesbian sex as exaggerated entertainment for their own pleasure.

Gonzalez is constantly creating art to draw attention to societal issues, stir powerful emotions within her audience, and express herself as a proud lesbian and Mexican woman. Her creations reflect domestic abuse, the mistreatment of women and people of color, queer struggles, and other causes she holds dear to her heart. “Art has basically been a savior for me in so many ways,” Gonzalez says. “I want to be that voice for someone who might not have one.”

Gonzalez was born in Mexico, and, because of her mom’s busy work schedule, spent most of her childhood with her grandparents. Her step-dad often brought violence into their home, and Gonzalez says she witnessed a lot of his abuse.

Because of how hostile he made their environment, Gonzalez would often avoid going home and began using art as an escape. Her first creative inspiration was The Joy of Painting’s Bob Ross—she has fond memories of going to her grandparents’ house, turning on the television, and learning from the iconic painter’s style. “Art was something that sort of helped me go inside of myself and find release,” Gonzalez says. “I didn’t really have a normal childhood.”

In school, Gonzalez experienced constant bullying and judgement for her sexuality, and at home, she faced an unaccepting family for years. She became severely depressed, and and at her lowest point, attempted suicide. The dark colors, aggressive mark making, and distressed materials she uses in her art indirectly reflect this pain. “Even though my upbringing wasn’t the easiest, it really shaped the way I create,” Gonzalez says.

After high school, Gonzalez moved to Houston get her Bachelor of Fine Arts in interior design from the Art Institute. She chopped off her hair, started dressing the way she wanted, and embraced her new life in the city. “I’m very much masculine in a lot of ways, but I’m also very feminine,” Gonzalez says. “I celebrate both qualities in myself.”

While attending the Art Institute, Gonzalez realized that perhaps a nine-to-five lifestyle was not for her. For the past four years, she has been doing art full-time (as well as pursuing her Master of Fine Arts in painting at Houston Baptist University) and is drastically happier. Her dream is to provide strong representation for young queer girls wanting to pursue their own creative dreams. “My main goal is really just to inspire,” Gonzalez says.

Social situations can sometimes be difficult for Gonzalez; she often finds herself out with a group of people, wishing she could be home because of how emotionally drained she feels. Through her art, however, Gonzalez feels she can authentically communicate with the world. “I’m trying to reinvent myself as an artist and touch on subjects that are important for our time, and that connect other humans,” Gonzalez says.

She has donated some of her works to Out For Education, a non-profit ogranization that awards scholarships to Houston-area LGBTQ students, along with other causes such as The Christina Project and Young Texans Against Cancer. “My ultimate goal is to continue to live the life I want to live as an artist, but at the same time, be involved with the community and take on more projects that are for the people,” Gonzalez says. “I just want to keep making art and if I can give back with it in any way, I’m down for that.”

Gonzalez is a strong believer in the power that positive thoughts can have on our actions. She says we often tend to overwhelm ourselves with what’s wrong in our lives, instead of focusing on what’s right. “It’s all about how you’re going to kick back from it, not dwelling on what is happening to you at that time,” Gonzalez says. “You have to know that this is just the beginning.”

This philosophy is often reflected in her art, as many of her pieces are made from used or donated materials. She takes items once deemed useless, and transforms them into new creative work. “Everything I have I try to give new life to,” Gonzalez says.

For a while, Gonzalez says she made art out of necessity. She felt it was something she had to do, otherwise she’d “just die.” Now, she is dedicated to using her art to reflect society and to express her experience as a queer woman of color. “I’ve been the artist who has been hurting for a long time, but now I’m happy knowing that I can do this and survive,” Gonzalez says. “I’m trying to start a dialogue about the issues that we face now—not just about me and my heartbreak.”

Keep up with Stephanie Gonzalez and her art at stephaniegonzalez.net and on Instagram and Facebook.