Monica Curiel, a first-generation Mexican American born in Texas to immigrant parents from Jalisco, México who work as laborers. As a child, she accompanied her parents to their work sites, spending time with her father on construction sites and helping her mother clean homes. These early experiences were instrumental in shaping her artistic practice, exposing her to the raw materials that form the foundation of her artistic palette, such as plaster, house paint, and grouting tools. By basing her creative practice around labor materials, each of her pieces becomes a celebration of her heritage and a way to honor the sacrifices that her parents and countless immigrants have made. Her work is influenced both by her culture and by her interdisciplinary education in interior design, fashion design, and fine art. Placing her pieces in spaces where Mexican immigrants are often confined, Curiel reflects the American dream.