by Molly Eide Marquez

“I’m a curious little artist,” said Teresa Flores. Taking your thoughts and emotions and channeling them into something for other people to admire truly is a work of heart. That’s exactly what this local artist does for her community.

Teresa, forty-one years old, grew up in Fresno, and makes it a priority to keep her community top of mind as inspiration for her work. As a child, she spent countless hours with her grandmother crafting, cooking, and unknowingly developing a love of art.

Culture and history play important roles in all of Teresa’s art. Her deep connection to the world around her is evident in each project she touches. Whether it is through videography, painting, drawing, or sculptures, each piece is filled with symbolism. Take her “Rad Fresno State Women” project, for example. Inspired by the book Rad American Women: A-Z, Flores, along with fellow artists and educators Jennifer Crow and Dr. Larissa Mercado-Lopez, wanted to honor the authors of the book as well as women who have played significant roles in shaping Fresno State’s community.

Through interdepartmental collaboration on campus, Flores, Crow, and Mercado-Lopez created an opportunity for a hands-on experience for art students. Together, they discussed the production process for public art installations, storytelling, and dug deeper into how women specifically are portrayed in different types of stories. The result, multiple ten-foot tall prints of women who have inspired and shaped the Fresno State community, were essentially wallpapered onto campus with a well-known street art technique that uses wheat paste to adhere the artwork to the walls.

She is currently developing a ceramic tile installation that will be incorporated into a water feature at the new West Fresno campus of Fresno City College, scheduled to open later this year. The art will reflect the history and culture of West Fresno, incorporating past, present, and future visions for the community.

Through all she does, she aims to inspire others to embrace their creativity and use their feelings to channel their inner artist, making her an exceptional teacher. She has taught at Fresno State as well as the Armory Center for the Arts in Pasadena. As a student of both Fresno City College and Fresno State, she went on to earn an MFA in Public Practice from Otis College of Art and Design. She likes to think there is a bit of rebellion in her work, in addition to beauty mixed with social commentary. For example, her hand painted Tapatio and Cholula bottles speak to how Teresa is always looking for ways to bring a little sparkle to otherwise mundane moments.

Teresa is a talented artist who brings a unique perspective to her work. Her latest project at Fresno City College is a testament to her commitment to the arts and her desire to make art and beautiful spaces accessible to everyone in the community. “Art is powerful. It plants a seed.” she said. “You create and experience things. That seed can bring a deeper appreciation or valuing of something later on.”

When she’s not working on her art or teaching, Teresa enjoys spending time with her dog, Olive Barktinez-Grrrero. You can follow along with her projects at teresafloresstudio.com/about or by checking out her Instagram account at nstagram.com/notteresa.

Check other local arts & entertainment articles in our Arts & Entertainment section. You can also find more theatre coming up on KRL’s Local Theatre event page.

Molly is a Central Valley native, where she and her family live, work, and play. A graduate of CSU Fresno, she is actively involved in the local community and is proud to lift up those around her, shining light on the many wonderful people and organizations that make the Central Valley such a great place to live.