Immerse Yourself in the Artistic Journey of Reyna Noriega

We are excited to present an exclusive interview featuring the talented artist, Reyna Noriega. In this interview, Reyna shares her unique insights and experiences surrounding her multimedia and multidimensional artwork installation at Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach.

Reyna’s installation at Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach is a groundbreaking exhibition that showcases her first solo exhibition and her innovative use of 3D life-size interactive sculptures and multimedia technologies. With the aim to immerse viewers into her world, Reyna creates a truly captivating and immersive experience like no other.

About the installation, can you share an insight into what visitors can expect from your multimedia and multidimensional artwork installation at Nautilus Sonesta Miami Beach?
My installation at the Nautilus is the first of its kind for many reasons. It is my first solo exhibition and my first time working with 3D life-size interactive sculptures and multimedia technologies to really immerse viewers into my world.

How does this installation reflect your vibrant heritage and identity as a female Cuban-Bahamian artist?
In my work, I try to channel feelings of joy and peace. Due to my culture and being raised in a vibrant place like Miami, I am centered in community and grounded in nature. You see all those themes and motifs in my work.

Your work encompasses various forms of art, including visual art, poetry, and your YouTube channel. How do these different mediums intersect in your creative process?
Everything I create is meant to invoke feelings of happiness or create a blueprint for others to learn to harness more joy and peace in their lives. My art is the “what,” depicting what I want people to feel. My poetry books and YouTube show more of the “why” and “how,” the personal battles I am overcoming in order to get to a place of peace and joy. They serve as a reminder to others that their journeys are sacred and part of the process.

Can you describe a pivotal moment or experience that influenced your decision to dedicate your life’s work to celebrating women of color through art?

The series that has become synonymous with “my style” emerged when I was searching for art for my home that was joyful, colorful and representative of me, and I could not find any. I began creating a collection that would raise the energy in my home, reminding me to feel confident and beautiful and showcasing places I traveled that brought me joy. When I shared, the response from my followers overwhelmingly showed me just how needed it was.

Being a Miami native, how has the city and its culture shaped your artistic vision and the themes you explore in your work?
Like my culture, my city determines the things I associate with peace. Miami is known for being colorful and sunny, with lots of tropical foliage. The ocean is a place that brings me a lot of joy and peace. I often walk or jog on the beach with my dog. There are a lot of water themes apparent in my work because proximity to water and nature is important to me.

Are there specific elements of Miami’s cultural landscape that have inspired or influenced the pieces featured in this exhibition?
Definitely. I have pieces titled “Distractions” and “Just Relax.” To me, “Just Relax” is a play on the concept “I live where you vacation.” It is a getaway for everyone else, but for Miami natives, it can be a little more complicated. If you don’t learn discipline, self-love, confidence, etc., Miami can be full of distractions. It can also cause confidence issues since everyone is seemingly so fit and beautiful.

You’ve collaborated with global brands like Schick, Goody, and Clif. Can you share a memorable experience or highlight from one of these collaborations that left a lasting impact on your artistic journey? 

I am so appreciative of all my collaborations and brand partners. I would say a highlight of my career would be traveling to Napa for the bottling and labeling process of my wine with Clif Family Winery. Another would be seeing my winter 2020 art installation that wrapped Brookfield Place in NYC. Seeing my work grace the covers of The New Yorker, Science Magazine and, most recently, a textbook is what I consider some of my most impactful work.

Is there a dream collaboration or project you aspire to work on in the future?
I want my art to exist in more spaces embedded in history, such as museum installations or public works that people can visit and ponder.

Your poetry often accompanies your visual art. How do you see the relationship between words and visuals in conveying the messages and emotions you want to share?
I like my art and writing to be open to interpretation so the viewers and readers can insert their own experiences and benefit the most from them. I think my poetry is more straightforward in the sense that you can read the thoughts I am processing at that moment. The writing is meant to be a blueprint to remind people that all of our journeys are sacred – the ups and downs and the space between where you are and where you want to be are filled with lessons for preparation. As the cliché goes, “Things are happening for you, not to you,” and I want to be a reminder of that.

Can you share the role that poetry plays in your creative process, and do you have a favorite poem or line that holds special meaning for you?
Poetry is my way to document the changes I am going through eternally. The artistic journey requires many evolutions, which can be very scary and vulnerable. Documenting my journey has helped me see that every time these evolutions have happened, I have emerged better and stronger. It allows me to approach these changes more bravely each time.

As you prepare to showcase over 12 never-before-seen pieces, is there a particular piece in this exhibition that holds significant personal meaning or is particularly special to you?
“Masking” really captures how my art can cover some of the more complicated human emotions and transitions I go through. It shows how the lack of eyes and features makes my work feel light and joyful while I may be masking something more complicated underneath.

How do you navigate the balance between vulnerability and strength in your art, especially when exploring personal aspects of your identity?
Vulnerability is strength. Sharing parts of yourself that aren’t perfect as you are still figuring things out takes courage and teaches others to show up as they are and love the process. I wouldn’t separate the two, but the balance comes when I need to draw the line between when I am sharing and when I am reflecting introspectively.

For the media and VIP events during the exhibition, what are you most excited about, and what do you hope attendees take away from the experience of meeting you and interacting with your art?
I hope visitors get a deeper understanding of my vibrant world, why I created it and why it was so needed. I hope they walk away excited about my journey as an artist and to share it with their audiences. I also hope they see me as more than a commercial artist with collaborations under her belt. I want them to see me as a career artist trying to create a better understanding of her world and to heal as much as she can.

Your art installations are described as multimedia and multidimensional. Can you share if there are any interactive elements or experiences within the exhibition that you believe will resonate strongly with the audience?
I designed a photo moment, “Welcome to Joy,” to bring a sense of inner child joy to attendees. The life-size 3D cutout of my art allows them to step inside the work. The most rewarding thing is when people tell me they can see themselves in my work. Now, with this piece, they can. As a kid, whenever I went to a fair or theme park, I loved taking photos behind similar wooden cutout
structures.

Bringing a full-scope art installation to life must come with its challenges and rewards. Could you speak to any particularly challenging aspects of creating this exhibition and the most rewarding moments you’ve experienced during the process?
Forging a career as an artist has taken a lot of discipline. I typically adhere to a strict sleep schedule and rest to combat the constant demands on my time and creativity. Bringing this installation to life, especially in the final stretch, required many all-nighters. But it was really encouraging and rewarding to see how people supported me in various ways.

The exhibition is open to the public during Art Week. How do you envision the community engaging with your artwork, and what do you hope attendees, both art enthusiasts and the general public, take away from their visit to your installation?
I hope visitors walk away determined to create the same safe spaces for themselves and treat happiness as a non-negotiable. I hope they enjoy the vulnerability and take that as permission to reveal so they can heal.