BIO

I'm Leah Cortez, a Chicana artist and BFA Communication Design student at Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, graduating in 2028. Creating has always felt like my purpose. When I was little I didn't just play pretend, I made props, designed costumes, and gave every game its own identity. I didn't know it then, but I was already a designer.

Growing up in South Texas, my Mexican heritage, Catholic upbringing, and the streets of downtown Corpus Christi influence everything I make. My personal work explores questions I can't stop thinking about—identity, religion, mental illness, and the uncomfortable or uncanny. I work across graphic design, printmaking, illustration, and mixed media. My work isn't made to please, it's made to linger.

✦ ABOUT THIS ARCHIVE

This archive is a collection of my favorite pieces and a record of how my work continues to grow. I wanted a space where I could share the work that feels most honest to me without the pressure of trying to impress anyone.

Everything here is personally curated. The work is raw, real, and reflective of different moments in my creative life. I see this archive as something that will continue to grow alongside me as I keep experimenting, collaborating, and creating new experiences.