Sometimes the ugliest moments in our lives can have the most beautiful impact. It’s something that prophetic artist Wences Fernando Vazquez knows all too well. Five:22 Culture caught up with Wences, a 30-year-old Mexican artist born in the state of Guerrero, raised in the Bronx, N.Y. and living in Guadalajara, to find out how God and art saved his life.
Get to know Wences Fernando Vazquez!
How would you describe what you do?
Prophetic art, evangelistic art.
When did you start making art? Do you remember what inspired you to begin your journey as an artist?
I started doing art when I was in a prison in New York. At first, I started drawing to get food, but then I realized that it was a talent that God had given me and that inspired me to continue to improve myself.
How would you describe the art you make?
The art that I do is an expression of my faith in Jesus.
What has been one of the most rewarding parts of your journey as an artist so far?
The best reward I have had as an artist is to be able to bless others with my talent and at the same time be an inspiration to other artists. That is the best reward.
What is one of the bigger challenges that you face as a Christian creative and how does your faith help you overcome it?
One of the challenges as a Christian artist is to capture as clearly as possible what God wants me to convey. Every time I paint, I ask God to do it with me.
What has your faith journey been like? If you were raised in church, how did you come to have your own personal relationship with God?
I met Christ when I grew up. When I was 25 years old, my brother spoke to me about God, but it wasn’t until a year later when I was in a state of crisis, anxiety, and depression that I sought refuge in Christ, and since that day I have walked hand in hand with Him.
It’s been an interesting 2 years with the COVID-19 pandemic and social injustices that have impacted our world. Have these or anything else that has happened in society or culture impacted your brand or creative process?
In this time of the pandemic, in the area of art, it impacted me in a positive way. Since I was able to spend a little more time at home, I was able to give myself more time to create and practice a lot.
It’s Hispanic Heritage Month in the U.S. and we want to use our platform to celebrate the amazing contributions that Latin people around the world contribute to our culture. How has your culture contributed to your artistic journey?
I am Mexican and the way my culture has contributed to my journey as an artist is (my people) receive what I express through my art in a good way.
What is something that encourages you that you can share with someone reading this?
What encourages me to continue developing and using my talent is that I do it for God, to carry his word through art. Zo I encourage you to remember that everything you do is for God.
Five:22 Culture was inspired by the Bible verse Galatians 5:22 that talks about the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Which of these resonates most with you in this season, and can you please explain why?
The fruit with which I identify myself at this time is patience. Before I wanted the vision that God has given me in terms of art to be fulfilled right away, but I have understood that it is a process and I have learned to be patient about it.
If you love Wences’ art as much as we do and would like to find out more about how you can commission his work, reach out to him via Facebook >>>here<<< and Instagram >>>here<<<.
Thank you for your support, many blessings to each of those who are part of this ministry