Taina Sisters
Tell us about you and your work
-Lily: We are three sisters, two artists, who grew up with a love of art just because it was so heavy in our family. On our mother’s side, there were actors, singers, painters, sculptors you name it. It’s only right that we followed the same path and that we made sure to stay true to ourselves. Vanessa and I have slightly different painting styles, but we wanted to both include our culture in our work. Vanessa has more of the street art style while I do more of the fine art, I think that’s what makes us Taina Sisters because we bring our unique styles to make one.
-Vane: I’m a Puerto Rican woman who grew up and spent most of my life in North Philly. My work is a reflection of the culture I was a part of and was around growing up. My work is a story about my roots and a fighter for what is right.
What inspires you?
Lily: : I’m inspired by my family first, coming from a family with a heavy artistic background, I wanted to be just like them and so that’s where most of my inspiration comes from. I get inspired by painting in general as it allows me to feel free and connected with myself and my sister.
Vane: What inspired me is the very little things in my own environment. The small things people see and pass through everyday but take for granted. What inspires me is the street art culture, hip hop, again the culture within the people in my community as far as sneaker culture, Latino culture, black culture. A combination of all these things are what keep my gears going into creating a piece people can all relate to in their very own way.
What does community mean to you?
Lily: Community to me means togetherness. It means everyone, regardless of background, being able to come together and have each other’s backs. Be unified in love and appreciating each other’s differences.
Vane: Community means everything. It’s what we are ultimately surrounded by, therefore it plays a very important role in our development and evolution. It’s what inspires us. What impacts us, what makes us see and realize things at times.
Favorite Film
Lily: West Side Story because Rita Moreno is everything!
Vane: - There was a film back in 2017 came out called Shine. I was the only one in the theater at the time with the exception of 2 other people to see it at my local theater. I remember watching all the empty seats. I remember it was one of the most meaningful movies I ever saw, because it was about two Puerto Rican brothers trying to fight against gentrification in their neighborhood. Both brothers used 2 diff alternatives to combate gentrification but ultimately ended up working together and created better results.
Favorite Song
Lily: I love anything Marc Anthony but his early music was some of my favorite. Palabras Del Alma has to be my favorite though.
Vane: Latinos by Proyecto Uno
Favorite Place
Lily: That’s a hard toss-up, Puerto Rico obviously because my family is from there and every time I go I fall in love all over again with the island. And 2 years ago I had the pleasure of visiting Havana, Cuba, photos you see do not do it justice and the people were so lovely.
Vane: Puerto Rico, the tropical landscape, and mountains are peace on earth to me.
