On her website, figurative ceramicist Michelle Solorzano explains, “My work is a personal exploration of my cultural identity, influenced by the complex interplay of colonization, immigration, and assimilation. The Dominican Carnival, with its deep historical roots, serves as a focal point in this exploration, highlighting the lasting impact of colonization on contemporary society.”
In February, Solorzano will exhibit a collection of her work called Memoria Disfrazada, translated as Memory in Disguise, at Studios on the Park (1130 Pine St., Paso Robles). According to the gallery, Solorzano’s collection “explores how identity and history are shaped through the layered experiences of colonization and immigration. By questioning history as it is often written and controlled by those in power, her work challenges inherited narratives and asks whose stories are preserved and whose are obscured.”
Solorzano holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting and Ceramics from the State University of New York at Potsdam and a Master of Fine Arts in Ceramics from Indiana University’s Eskenazi School of Art, Architecture, and Design.
Born in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, she and her family moved to New York when she was 15. Her work is inspired by her Dominican heritage, mixing Taino, African, and Spanish influences. She now lives in California and is a long-term artist in residence at the American Museum of Ceramic Arts. Δ
This article appears in Health & Wellness 2026.