Gabriella Valdez (b. 1990, Los Angeles, CA) is a Mexican-American painter and illustrator whose work explores the narratives of poverty, domestic violence, and social injustice. Her artistic practice is both intentional and experimental, blending traditional mediums like acrylic and ink with unconventional surfaces such as wood, stretched tarp, and burlap to amplify her message. Valdez’s work captures the nuanced moments between joy and struggle, aiming to humanize marginalized communities and people of color. Valdez received her B.A. in Studio Art from California State University, Dominguez Hills in 2022, becoming the first in her family to earn a bachelor’s degree. Her work has been exhibited at The Mistake Room, Los Angeles, CA; Mercado La Paloma, Los Angeles, CA; and Esperanza Community Housing’s Palestinian Women: Images and Stories, Los Angeles, CA, among other galleries and institutions in Los Angeles. Her paintings have been published in Dominguez Today, where she addressed themes of race and injustice. Valdez was also selected as a speaker for the Women’s Panel Discussion in solidarity with Palestine at Esperanza Community Housing, featured in an interview with LA Weekly on International Women’s Day, and will be honored with an award for cultural activism at Esperanza’s 35th Annual Gala in 2024. Currently, Valdez is an Art Teacher in Downtown Los Angeles, providing enriched learning opportunities for K-8 students in an underserved community.