Manifest Destiny: Portrait of Sarah Polk
Angelica Contreras
Oil on canvas
$500
Artist Statement
Religious, conservative, and an overall powerful woman for her era, Sarah Polk was a model of conservative female power. Unlike most of the past first ladies, Sarah Polk was politically active and an important asset to President James K. Polk. Sarah supported the President’s desire to fulfill the nation's "Manifest Destiny" by invading and claiming more territory for the United States. President Polk continued wars against Native Americans and fought a war against Mexico. Manifest Destiny was driven by a belief in racial superiority, religious proselytization, and imperialism. Sarah Polk is a controversial figure because although she was extremely influential in her role as first lady, many of her beliefs were imperialist and racist.
About the Artist
Angelica Contreras is a Latinx artist interested in exploring the relationships between identity, tradition, and pop culture, through its many layers, incorporating techniques like acrylic, oil, and collage into her pieces. Her work seeks to act as a bridge between various communities and cultures and thus reflecting on her own.
She was born in Whittier, California, and moved to Guadalajara, Jalisco at an early age. She attended the University of Guadalajara, receiving a B.A. in art in 2008 and a Masters in Art Education in 2016. Her artwork has been shown in exhibitions in Mexico and the U.S., including “The Hidden Faces/ Los Rostros Ocultos” at Latino Arts Inc in Milwaukee and “What We Inherit: Remnants of Light and Space” at the Overture Center in Madison, WI. She currently lives and works in Madison, Wisconsin, where she continues to create and showcase her art.
Visit www.angelicacontreras.net to see additional work.