**BIO**

 

  A Kansas City native, Florez pursued her studies at the Kansas City Art Institute and the University of Washington in Seattle. Her professional journey includes roles in university and museum art education, alongside a dedicated studio practice and exhibition history, primarily focused on the West Coast.

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  Florez initially engaged in ceramics and sculpture, prioritizing craftsmanship and the expressive potential of nonfunctional forms. While residing in Seattle, she developed an interest in the digital realm and its impact on visual perception, particularly regarding how computer screens influence our experience of color. After moving to San Francisco, she broadened her artistic scope to include drawing and painting, investigating the connection between mind and body through medical imagery. Brain scans and microscopic images of mitosis emerged as significant sources of inspiration, linking scientific visuals to themes of perception, transformation, and the unseen.

 

  Upon returning to Kansas City, Florez continued her color exploration through photography and painting. Following the COVID-19 lockdown, she focused on the familiar landscapes of her childhood in the Kansas City area. Utilizing her own photographs and digital manipulation as foundational material, she approaches these scenes as starting points for paintings that transcend mere literal representation.