Roots in Resilience

Born and raised in Phoenix, Arizona, Lucinda grew up in the heart of the desert — but also in the margins. Her early life wasn’t painted in bright tones. As a child of a single mother, she experienced the weight of instability, insecurity, and trauma.

“I came from a single mom household. There was four of us, four kids. You know, she worked a lot. So we were left to our own devices.”

Art, in those early days, wasn’t about career — it was about survival. “I didn't understand how it was a gift at the time. I just knew I liked doing it.”

That escape would soon become a calling.

Finding Her Voice

La Morena didn’t follow a straight path. “I think for me, growing up, I didn't know that this could be a profession. It was just something I did.”

But over time, her voice as an artist began to take shape through portraiture, cultural iconography, and poetic visual storytelling.

“I just always gravitated to the female form, and also a lot of the pain I was experiencing growing up, I would put into my art.”

That honesty resonated. People started to notice. Her art wasn’t just technical — it was emotional. “I think it was my way of healing.”

From the Streets to the Studio

La Morena has since partnered with brands, collectives, and institutions that align with her story — and her soul.

She’s done commissioned work for organizations like the NFL, National Hispanic Cultural Center, Arizona State University, local community centers across the Southwest, and a number of international brands. She’s painted murals across the globe that speak to youth empowerment, illustrated campaigns rooted in cultural pride, and created pieces that honor unsung heroes of the community.

Each collaboration is a testament to where she’s been — and who she’s become. Her clarity has become her signature. “I realized I don't want to do art that's empty.”

Healing Through Art

For La Morena, art has always been more than aesthetic. It’s been therapy.

“It was the way that I dealt with a lot of trauma growing up.”

Her pieces often explore identity, womanhood, ancestral memory, and spiritual growth. But more than anything, they serve as evidence of her own evolution.

“Sometimes I look back at pieces I made when I was really young, and I'm like, man, I was going through it. But I didn't even know how to say it out loud. So I put it in a piece.”

After being diagnosed with depression in 2010, a therapist helped her realize that art was her saving grace.

La Morena escaped a 12 year marriage filled with domestic violence and emotional abuse. The mother of three full grown children and a nana of two. She eventually found her strength to walk away from that toxic environment and was able to create a healthy and stable life for her family.

“So art really saved my life. It inspired me. It inspires others. And because I've seen the impact that my murals and my work has had in the community, that is healing work for me. That's growth.”

Coffee, Culture, and the Dia Collaboration

When Dia Café reached out to La Morena about a collaboration, it was more than business.

“Coffee's always been like a sacred thing for me and my family.”

She recalls a memory rooted in coffee that she holds dear and that brings her comfort to this day.

“I would spend the night at my Nana's house and I would fall asleep on the couch. But at 5:00 in the morning, I would smell coffee and I would smell it throughout the house because he always made his coffee. And that memory, I love it so much. So when I take a sip of the coffee, I feel that right.”

The Dia x La Morena collab became a visual tribute to resilience. Her artwork for the project was full of symbolism, storytelling, and emotion.

“I think a company like DIA is inspiring because I love coffee. And not only that, it gets to tell authentically our stories.”

“I remember the first time y'all hit me up. I was like, wait, what is this? This is so dope. They're a café, but they're highlighting artists? That's wild.”

Her contribution to the collaboration wasn’t about checking boxes — it was about expression.

“That piece meant a lot to me because I put so much intention into it. I didn't want to just make something that looked pretty.”

The feedback was immediate and heartfelt.

What Fills Her Cup

While La Morena continues to paint, collaborate, and host healing-centered art workshops, her purpose remains clear.

“I want to make art that matters. Art that tells the truth. Even if it's painful.”

And when asked what keeps her going?

“My daughters. My community. Coffee. Music. Art. Just the fact that I get to wake up and do what I love — that's enough.”

What’s Next?

While La Morena continues to paint, collaborate, and host healing-centered art workshops for women of color, she’s not chasing clout. She’s chasing purpose.

“I just want to keep making work that feels true,” she said. “I want to show the next generation — especially little brown girls growing up in hard places — that you can take your pain and turn it into power.”

She’s also dreaming up her next solo show, which will dive deeper into themes of ancestral trauma, motherhood, and divine femininity — all laced with her signature blend of color, courage, and corazón.

La Morena’s story isn’t just inspiring — it’s necessary. It reminds us that art isn’t just about talent. It’s about truth. It’s about choosing to stay soft in a world that hardens you. About making beauty from the things that tried to break you.

And sometimes, it’s about pouring that story into a cup of coffee and sipping on something that reminds you where you come from.

We’re honored to call her a collaborator — but even more honored to call her familia.