Josie Del Castillo is a figurative painter born and raised in Brownsville, Texas, where she draws inspiration from her Mexican American heritage and the complexities of life along the border.

As a first-generation Mexican American, her work explores themes of identity, empowerment, and the complex emotional journey of motherhood. Through vivid self-portraits and vibrant landscapes of the Rio Grande Valley, Del Castillo reflects on her personal experiences, expressing the joys, challenges, and transformative process of becoming a mother.

"Matrescence" explores the ambivalence of motherhood, from the overwhelming emotional highs to the psychological struggles that accompany bringing new life into the world. Each piece in the exhibition display's Del Castillo's strength and vulnerability, inviting viewers, particularly new mothers, to engage with the uncomfortable realities and all too often unspoken obstacles of motherhood.

In "Matrescence," Del Castillo explores themes of self-acceptance, mental health, and cultural and social expectations. The exhibition features all new works, including Mother's Guilt, which considers the universal struggles of parenting and the process of embracing imperfection. Other candid works, like Dolor de Cabeza, explores Del Castillo's personal battles with postpartum depression, addressing the relentless intrusive thoughts and new excessive concerns of motherhood.

Following the opening reception, the exhibit will be on view through March 15.