SANGRONX is the pseudonym of queer Chicanx artist Olivia Ramos, a gender neutral term derived from the Spanish word sangrona. This word was used against her when she talked back, refusing to fall in line with the aggressive gender roles in her traditional, Mexican upbringing. Ramos reclaims this word through her artwork, which defends and protects her from machismo aggression. Art by SANGRONX is loud with themes of self-empowerment, solidarity, and resilience.
With golden auras surrounding her subjects, Ramos’ representational acrylic paintings confront her own imposter syndrome while reminding viewers that they are capable, resilient, and divine. Her creative process invites self-discovery, connecting her to a larger community that faces similar issues. By highlighting the experience of being sensitive in a hard, patriarchal world, Ramos creates narratives that resonate with other queers of color who also feel like they are ‘too much’ and often struggle to recognize their own beauty.
In this way, Ramos does not fight alone. Overcoming demands by the dominant American culture and mainstream media to remain complacent and silent, her work ‘talks back’ to social injustices everywhere. The ethereal paintings of SANGRONX celebrate the agency and resistance of womxn and queers of color, and are symbolic reminders of their unity.
PRESSRedwood City Parks and Arts FoundationLovers Lane, San Francisco, CA, 2024PUBLIC ART2023 Mural, Ruby’s Place, Castro Valley, CA2022 Mural, Beauty Botanica Salon, Oakland, CAEXHIBITIONS2023 Group exhibition, ‘Environments of Emergence: Influences and Inspiration,’ Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Redwood City, CA2021 Group exhibition, Queer Healing Arts Center, Oakland, CA2020 Group exhibition, ‘The People’s Oakland Pride,’ Oakland, CA2020 Community mural project, Oakland, CA2019 Group exhibition, ‘Viva La Muxer,’ Los Angeles, CA2019 Group exhibition, ‘Auto Doctor Anniversary Event,’ San Leandro, CA2019 Group exhibition, ‘Magia,’ Burnt Oak Gallery, Oakland, CA2019 Group exhibition, ‘Pachamama Art Show,’ Oakland, CA2019 Group exhibition, ‘A Voz Alta,’ El Comalito Collective, Vallejo, CA2019 Group exhibition, ‘Vinyl Life,’ Vallejo CA2019 Site-specific installation, Kefa Coffee, Oakland, CA2021 COLLECTIONSPrivate Collections, Hayward, CAPrivate Collections, Los Angeles, CAPrivate Collections, San Francisco, CAPrivate Collections, Huntington Beach, CAPrivate Collections, Lake Tahoe, CAEDUCATIONStudied under:Juana Alicia Judith Baca