Andrew Roibal (he/him/his)

I am a Native artist from New Mexico. Photography is my preferred medium, but I branch out into drawing, painting, and sculpture when I can communicate my ideas through those more clearly. I grew up in the southwest with a pretty conservative family, with my main cultural influences being from my German and Native American sides of the family. I had always done drawing casually, but in college I pursued it more, along with painting, until I met a photography teacher who completely changed my outlook on the practice. Since then I’ve done many different photography projects, each one giving insight into what it’s been like growing up as a Native in contemporary America. I spent time working in galleries and photo labs in Texas, and learned much about instant film photography, which has become a very solid core of my practice even today. I love art and making art because it allows me to bring awareness to things that I believe the average American should know, which are hidden from the public almost. One project I did recently was on the use of Native land for nuclear waste disposal, and another has been around Queer and Indigenous punk/skater groups that have had to find each other for safety and solidarity. Bringing to light these events and groups is a major factor in my motivation to make work that can possibly bring about change, and I think the best way that I can hone my art practice is through this program.