Ana Morales, Artist

Ana Morales is based in Roanoke, Virginia, and works primarily with mixed media. She holds an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a BFA from James Madison University, where she studied studio art and art education. She works at LeisureMedia360 in Roanoke as the art director for publications, including the Roanoker Magazine and the Virginia Travel Guide. Morales has exhibited her work locally and nationally.

ARTIST STATEMENT

For many years, my work has primarily been informed by my life as a type 1 diabetic. I’m interested in art-making as an opportunity to play and experiment, and I think this stems from a lifetime of adhering to rules and routines for my health and well-being. Over the years, I have discovered artistic processes that mimic my daily life with diabetes—processes that explore repetition and routine, control, order, and risk. While my early work is quite literal, my more recent work explores the broader idea of illness versus wellness and the day-to-day fluctuations of my mental health.