About Me
Hi! My name is Ilse Cadena
I’m a visual artist and toy designer currently based in Los Angeles, CA.
I enjoy blending multiple media forms into my practices. I also enjoy the process of transforming a 2D artwork into a 3D piece.
On a deeper level, I’m interested in the human phenomena, social impact work, business strategy, and exploring the less visible sides of society.
Art, play, and technical problem-solving.
I was born in Puebla, Mexico, into a family rooted in medicine and business rather than the arts. Creativity was not something that was encouraged. As a toddler i’d draw on the walls, I also remember spending many afternoons cleaning those walls.
I migrated to San Francisco, CA, when I was eleven. Soon after arriving, I was recruited into XTECH, a working prototype of a student-production laboratory inside The Exploratorium. There, students had access to the same tools, technology, labs, and mentorship that museum staff had. I spent the next 10 years immersed in a variety of roles and programs through out the museum and through all that, I developed a strong foundation in hands-on building, iterative design thinking, STEM education, and resourcefulness.
This experience continues to heavily inspire my work today.
-Ilse
Don’t hesitate to reach out
Commissions, email directly: cxilse.art@gmail.com
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