Kaelynne Hernandez is a first-generation Mexican-American artist born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut (b. 2000). Her parents immigrated to the US from Mexico City in the 90s in search of the American dream. In 2022, Hernandez graduated from the University of Connecticut with a BFA in Painting & Drawing. She uses art to document and articulate her lived experiences as a first generation Mexican American woman. By exploring the metaphysical and the spiritual in her work, as well as deepening her knowledge on ancient Mexican culture before colonialism, she challenges her current philosophical understandings of humanity, the world, and religion. As a result her paintings are symbolic and explore themes of identity, diaspora, mysticism, the body, and chicanismo. Ultimately she uses painting as a way to process cultural and generational trauma, and to reclaim her voice in a society that has long conditioned her to accept narrow ideas about right and wrong, womanhood, and identity. Since graduating, she has had many art shows in local spaces, including Orgins at 63 audubon and Parental Guidance at Nxthvn. At these shows she has had the opportunity to connect with others who share similar dichotomic experiences. In 2024, Kaelynne was a mural apprentice for the largest mural in New Haven, Thermal Reflections. As well as had her hand in the mural at Possible Futures book store. In general, she spends most of her days in the studio painting or engaging with the arts community in New Haven.