Specializing in the modern-day still life, Eva Marengo Sanchez utilizes everyday objects in her work to elevate the commonplace, creating new iconic symbols through her bicultural and Tex-Mex lens. Born in San Antonio in 1990 and residing there currently, Sanchez’s connection to the city is clear in her work through her representation of local food, identity, geography, and culture. Reminiscent of early 17th-century floral oil paintings, Eva replaces the traditional vase with a salvaged oregano jar, presenting a vibrant floral arrangement against a pale green background. Recurrent in Eva’s work, the theme of replacing the mundane with locally salient objects transforms everyday imagery into personal and cultural symbols, creating what the artist describes as “snapshots into moments and recurring themes in my life that tell a larger story about geography and culture.” — Eva Marengo Sanchez