Unlike other floral artists, Serena Madrigal likes to leave the thorns on her roses; she finds the duality in the flower's softness and sharp edges meaningful. "Roses are beautiful, but the thorns are what make the rose beautiful. That's what protects the rose," she said.
At 30, Madrigal is a multidisciplinary artist splitting her time between Chicago and Sacramento, California. Beyond her floral creations, her art spans painting, hand-poke tattoos, event planning, and creative direction. She considers her work with her hands a legacy passed down from her father, a Chicano street artist.
But to understand the intention and meaning behind Madrigal's work, you have to know her roots. Serena Madrigal instagram.com/__espinas "We grew up pretty poor, and I was actually in foster care for 12 years," Madrigal said.
"[My siblings and I] became a product of the system." Madrigal entered the foster care system in Sacramento when she was less than a year old. It would take her mother, Debbie, 12 long years to finally adopt Madrigal, along with her three siblings, all of whom had also been placed in the system.
"I'm still healing from it, but I feel [that] had we not gotten taken away, I don't think she would have changed her life, and been able to get us back, or been able to be in our life," she said. For 12 years, Madrigal believed no one was searching for her or fighting to bring her home. Reuniting with her mother came as a shock, but the two quickly bonded over their shared love fo.
