Paraiso is a self-portrait of Reyes and her two daughters in their own world. Their own paradise. After everything the three have been through in their young lives together, the painting is intended to portray the safe space they are creating together in their own world. Their own paradise. 

Paraiso 

"The Gardner" is a piece dedicated to Reyes' Abeulita, Maria Castillo. In her early life, she planted the garden alone. She took pieces from her home and rerooted them in America after leaving behind her old life to create a better one for her children. The fabric background is intended to resemble how she is fabricating her old life into her new one, and like a blanket, she is hoping to cover her family with the promise of a better future. 

The Gardner

"Guera" is a portrait created to portray genuine happiness from within. 

It is a portrait of Reyes’ mother in the beginning stages of her new relationship with her fiancé (Reyes’s father) after leaving an abusive marriage. 

The blue flowers that are growing from “Guera” are purposely chosen as they symbolize peace, tranquillity, and serenity which is rooted in her new healthy relationship. Her growth as an individual finding safety and happiness in herself and her new love, are paired purposely with vibrant colors to match the feelings of gratitude expressed. The portrayal of genuine happiness and peace fills the canvas to convey new life and joy, while the lone, white flower signifies that our past pains that are still felt inside can blossom into something more beautiful with time.

Guera

"Teen mom" is a piece highlighting several topics and the inequalities young women are experiencing in terms of religion, community, and the controversy in the healthcare climate. With Religion, Saint Mary has been deemed a sacred motherly icon and is adorned, yet in reality, young mothers are ostracized and ridiculed, given limited resources, and shunned in society. The contrast in treatment within communities, cultures, and religions is telling on the treatment and support young women are withheld from receiving including the ability to choose themselves first. I wanted to address this topic as I was a teen mother myself. I want other young women in these circumstances to still have the ability to see themselves as someone special and sacred who deserves humanity and grace with whatever choices are made.

Teen Mom 

"Rooted" is the beginning and middle piece created a part of my solo show titled "In the Garden where I grow". Focused on the aspect of being uprooted and having to replant yourself in a better foundation in order to grow and thrive. The act of growing and the continuation of it is a major key point in the human experience and not exclusive to the artist' personal journey of healing but one that transcends into connecting with others who experience the need to reroot and grow in a better environment. 

Rooted

This is the story of my abuelo and abuela, who created a beautiful legacy of their love. It has transcended time and passed to each generation in my family. A testimony of exploration, endurance, and true unity. 

The beginning roots of my family. Where the seeds were planted. Where the love first grew. This is their story. This is my story

The piece has 9 seeds or raindrops to symbolize their 9 children they planted together. Two of which are not filled in due to them unfortunately passing. The subtle plants in the background represent new roots the couple planted together and it’s emerging growth. The dove a symbol of hope and new life. This piece is in honor of the life my grandparents started together, and the love they created like many other families. 

La Union

In the Garden is a piece featuring Reyes' late abuelita "ama" . The painting is a part of a series for Joy's current solo show surrounding planting your roots and nurturing the garden where you're from. 

In the Garden 

Cowboy Cupid is a piece inspired by my life in Texas. The artwork has elements inspired from my days on the dance drill team. This shown through the images depicting southern dance culture, and other elements of the south.

Cowboy cupid

This artwork is based off of humanities ability to survive constant war and destruction throughout the years, while adapting to what future apocaylpses we might cause by our own devices. I wanted to create a piece that took elements from wars of our past, that appear to still be prevalent in our current social climate.

We will not surrender 

"Boxed Chocolates" is a piece centered around small acts of intimacy and romantic gestures that we often associate with love.

Boxed chocolates

Humanities quest to find hope and peace is directly intertwined to the comfort we find in faith, and the idea that there is something greater than us to believe in. That of course could mean multiple things unique to the individual, that might stray away from this. 
However, the painting highlights the major elements we often find when searching to cling to something.  Just as individuals often turn to religion to find answers/peace in times of emotional desperation. The symbolisms represented in the painting are key elements involved in Christian faith that are significant in depicting hope, and promises of keeping faith through transgressions.

Something to cling to 

“Luchador Legends” is a painting focused on traditional Mexican wrestling, and the culture behind the fighting performances. The pieces has several iconic wrestlers featured in the painting, as well as words and images that symbolize the power and significance of wrestling as a whole.

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