Omar Monroy + Taylor Uchytil
they/she + she/they
New York City, NY, USA
Omar Monroy, a Trans-nonbinary Oaxacan artist of Ñuu'savi descent, expresses their heritage through El Techichi Jewelry. Born in Iztapalapa, Mexico, and now residing in Lenapehoking (Lower East Side), they blend traditional and contemporary materials, drawing inspiration from Mexico's ecosystems. El Techichi is a maximalist gender-neutral ode to creativity, rejecting colonial gender constructs, and pushes for plus size inclusivity in the fashion and jewelry industry.
Taylor Uchytil is a Walker River Paiute Tribal member and queer artist from Nevada, now based in New York City. She reimagines traditions of her Paiute tribe into fashion. The work is dedicated to her younger cousins, serving as a display of resilience, hope, and gratitude.
“Luu Paqueria Tsotua is a combination of artists Omar Monroy and Taylor Uchytil’s heritage. Blending traditional Paiute cradleboard beadwork with Ñuu’savi metalsmithing and design. Together the artists hope this piece of work is seen as a fresh way to translate tradition into fashion and adornment. It also serves as an encapsulation of their love for their grandfathers, who wore cowboy hats as a form of expression and functionality.”
"Luu Paqueria Tsotua", Leather, brass, glass beads, cowrie shells, abalone, freshwater pearls, gemstones, copper, 7" x 15" x 16", 2024How does your work relate to the theme connection?
“Connection is the main theme of the collaborative piece Luu Paqueria Tsotua. The theme is demonstrated through the materials, processes, and the name itself; the name Luu Paqueria Tsotua is derived from a blend of Tuun’savi and Paiute languages, translating to ‘Stunning Cowboy Hat.’ This collaboration started as a connection, a friendship between Taylor and Omar, as they exchanged Indigenous mythologies and creation stories. Eventually, this connection led to a collaboration; Omar’s exceptional jewelry design, combined with Taylor’s distinctive beading style, beautifully bridges their cultures. This piece has not only deepened their personal bond with each other but has also strengthened their connection with family. Omar and Taylor’s grandfathers both relied on cowboy hats as a form of protection from the elements and expression of personal style. Through this process, the artists found many images of their grandfathers wearing the same brand and color cowboy hat. Luu Paqueria Tsotua has given the artists the opportunity to explore the connections between their modern lives and ancestral traditions. The goal is that their work encourages others to explore unexpected connections."
NYCJW24 @ UrbanGlass, Francely Flores
What role does connection play in your creative process?
“It started with storytelling; Omar and Taylor shared their ancestral stories about the relationships between Indigenous people and the fauna important to them. For example, the Monarch butterfly and the Puma are both migratory creatures unaffected by man-made borders. Deer and rabbits are vital beings to the survival, lifestyle, and storytelling of Paiute people. Their shared respect and care for animals and stories led to this collaboration. From the hat hang six brass coins, each one representing Omar and Taylor’s heritage, while the other side shows their combined brand logos. The hat was then hand-embellished by Taylor with shells, pearls, glass beads and each of the artist's birthstones - all enhancing the theme of connection. After starting this project, both artists became aware that their languages are in the same language family.
Most of the process came naturally through organic conversations surrounding the importance of heritage and materials. Both artists create with the same intention to represent their people and envision their lifestyles as luxury. The intention around creative processes was already established in their individual work; therefore, this connection came naturally, manifesting as Luu Paqueria Tsotua."
NYCJW24 @ UrbanGlass, Simon Leung
Omar: “My queerness allows me to dig deeper and remove colonial constructs that at one point isolated me from my culture and the planet. It has allowed me to reimagine what I consider as art and to rethink what the lines are between activism, cultural preservation and art.“
Taylor: “Queerness has often contradicted my understanding of tradition - both play a vital role in my art, but it has given me the opportunity to connect with my culture and work in a way that is all-encompassing. My queerness has brought a sense of wholeness and confusion; this has created unique connections to my friends, family, art and culture. Friendships have become deeper and stronger than ever because of my queerness. There’s something special about a connection with someone when they accept you in totality, that’s how I feel with my friend and collaborator, Omar."
What connection(s) does your queerness make to the world around you?
NYCJW24 @ UrbanGlass, Francely Flores
Anything else you would like to share about this work?
This can be an important part of the process, sourcing materials, or research.
“Each material was sourced from vendors found on Turtle Island, like the shells and beads which came form a Paiute owned business. The gemstones came from an estate sale, and the charms are made from recycled brass. This piece is a result of indigenous people fighting for visibility and inclusion in the arts, fashion and jewelry industries."
