Minerva Diaz shares the stories with Misty Copeland, 2019. · Photo: Glenda E. Jones
Minerva’s life has followed a serendipitous path, with seemingly unrelated chapters connecting in unexpected ways. She entered the trades when women were rarely there, first as an industrial painter with DC-9 and later as a refrigeration engineer at ABC. Her journey continued through the automobile industry as a road producer, to the United Nations as a representative and speaker, cultural leadership, and community advocacy. Through it all, art was always a constant—documenting history through her work and continuing an extraordinary creative journey through installations, preserving other people’s stories, and now beginning to preserve her own.
Every canvas holds a story within a story.
The subject may be where the story begins, but it is rarely where it ends. Minerva looks beyond the likeness to the life, history, and moments that shaped the person—and to the inspiration that first drew her to their story. Many of those stories also carry a personal connection to Minerva, adding another layer to the work.
Photographs, historical images, documents, places, and personal details are often woven into a single composition. Some are immediately recognizable; others are tucked quietly into the work, waiting to be discovered. Together, they allow one canvas to hold many moments in a life and tell a story that extends far beyond the likeness itself.
THE STORIES WITHIN THE WORK
A glimpse into the stories behind the art.
Malala: Thank you for your Courage | 2015
THE STORY INSIDE THE BOOK
Inspired by Malala Yousafzai’s courage, Minerva imagined a young girl reading a book filled with letters from girls around the world thanking Malala for inspiring them.
Look closely—the book, its words, and even the name DIAZ on its spine reveal another story within the canvas.
Click the image to discover how the story came together.
DISCOVER
THE MIND OF MINERVA
Artist · Storyteller · Visual Historian
This is who she is.
This is what she creates.
This is the world she has moved through.
And this is how you can work with her.
HOW THE POSTCARDS REACHED OBAMA
Minerva imagined history corresponding with itself. “Progress” writes to the past, connecting moments in Barack Obama’s historic journey with those who helped make them possible.
And then, the postcards took an unexpected journey of their own.
Click the image to discover more.
Election Night | 2008
Race to the Top | Original signed by Hillary Clinton · 2016
Dawn of a New Day | Original signed by Barack Obama · 2008
