Lizbeth Peña-Mendez
The Midnight Crypt
The title of my exhibition, The Midnight Crypt, reflects my creative process and the type of work I produce. I like to think of the space I work from as a “crypt” because it exists within the room where I rest. It’s a place where I feel comfortable experimenting and being playful. I don’t worry too much about the bad ideas; instead, I use them to help me get to the good ones. I find myself being in the right headspace at night so that’s when most of the work gets done. At night I compile my thoughts from throughout the day and evolve them into something tangible. By the end of the night, I bring my best from the crypt (my head) and share it with others for feedback and improvement.
Being born and raised in L.A., I have fond memories of seeing magazine stands in downtown, along with the hardworking people behind them. Come to think of it, passing by those stands was probably one of my earliest introductions to graphic design, even before I realized it. As a teenager, I started to really immerse myself into concert-going and took notice in album and merch design. Being able to see the connection between a musical artist and a designer/visual artist was what guided my interest in graphic design. Today those influences continue to shape the work I create. I draw inspiration from places that support a sense of community, such as record shops, bookstores, and L.A. poster culture.
I see this exhibition as a platform to showcase work that represents my personal interests, as well as my political and non-political values. While the projects I will display may not be directly related to one another, together they provide insight into who I am and what I can accomplish as a designer. I believe that art and design exist on the same spectrum, and I want to exhibit my ability to combine the two disciplines.
Artist Statement
I don't approach new projects in the same way each time. There are times when I can go a couple of days without being able to come up with any solid ideas until it just suddenly strikes me and I'll spend hours working to solidify my ideas. There are occasions when I have solid ideas and as I conduct more research and view things from a different perspective, I head a different direction and produce better results. I have found out that laying things out on paper and having something tangible has helped me a lot as a designer. My background in studio arts most of the time steers my initial renderings with a more artistic approach. I take my time finding the right balance between art and design because I find equal value and both.
As a designer, my goal is to uplift the individuals I collaborate with. I aim to contribute meaningfully and see how my work draws attention to the cause. I believe that I have a responsibility to ensure that what I create conveys the right message. Design should be intentional and carefully curated to resonate with its audience. In order to become a better designer I always make an effort to see things from a perspective that I may not be comfortable with. Exploring different design approaches has helped me better understand what I do and why I'm doing it. I try to leave my designing comfort zone as much as I can and ultimately it has made me faster and more productive.
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