Inspired by her family and the culture she grew up with in Laredo, Angelica Raquel draws from shared stories, familial experiences, and her life from the border, to central Texas.

Acting as a new generational storyteller, Raquel explores narratives rooted in folklore and the stories told by her late Grandfather. By retelling and reinventing these tales through a multitude of mediums, Raquel’s work brings oral traditions into a physical presence, expanding on leyendas (legends) that teach lessons, societal shifts, family roles, and examine mankind’s relationship with nature and the unknown. Ominous warnings towards ill intending men and magical women acting as protectors of the innocent are constant themes throughout the work, placing an importance on the archetype and roles of women in families and communities. Many of her stories can be traced to named relatives within the family, who recount their experiences with wonder, and a little fear.

In recent works, Raquel tells her own experiences as a young girl connecting to nature, reminiscing on the magic around the animals and land that once made up her family’s beloved ranch. Her multidisciplinary studio practice, which includes painting, drawing, metal tooling, felting, and rug hooking, act as the different voices through which a story can be told. Raquel’s use of craft techniques and latin folk art motifs aim to elevate and honor her ancestors and the visual language and stories she grew up with.