Valerie Gonzalez creates shrines as a way to glorify herself as a brown-skinned Chicana woman of indigenous background. Gonzalez says, “I want the world to respect my kind of woman, the wild brown woman, to glorify her and cherish her as she deserves. She is not apologetic, she is a warrior, she is forgiving, woman of the earth, protector of love. I use myself to represent this idea because growing up I was always ashamed of my dark skin and wild nature and now I see the immense value of who I am and the power I have. In my culture, the women are brought up to be submissive to authorities and to males even though our ancestral women were not so and were even in some instances worshipped as Gods. I address these archetypes that society has put upon brown Chicana women while also reflecting on how I see myself. Similarly, in my craft and aesthetic, I challenge the preconceived ideas of “fine art”. I use materials to simulate Mexican folk art and ofrendas which are shrines dedicated to loved ones that have passed.

In my self-portraits I admit to my audience my true self and I glorify the “ugly” about me. I glorify my identity as a female minority who is very “chingona” and promiscuous and not typically beautiful. My works of dedication are meant to be taken differently by everyone. People who relate to me more will reminisce with the shrines while others completely different from me might think the things and people I worship are superficial and meaningless. These types of perspectives beg the question—What is the importance of Worship?”