“Fairy Tale Rebirth Through Metamorphosis I,” 2025, acrylic paint, papier-maché, and gold leaf on canvas.
“Fairy Tale Rebirth Through Metamorphosis II,” 2025, acrylic paint, papier-maché, and gold leaf on canvas.
An excerpt from from Natasha Muriel’s poem “Every Day I Wake Up”:
It is hard to live in a world
With many barriers and stigmas about
Gender everywhere
My community wants to express itself
And live with dignity
Our identity also matters
This world needs more love and compassion
To understand that everyone is different and special,
Because our difference is what matters and makes us unique.
“Open Your Eyes, Ancient Memory,” Natasha Muriel, 2025.
Top image: “The Stigma’s Bandage,” Natasha Muriel, 2025. Acrylic, papier-maché, gold leaf.
Read Natasha Muriel’s story “Alone” elsewhere in the issue. View other artworks by Muriel in the 2025 edition of The Lit.
Natasha Muriel is a Latina transgender art student based in New York. Born in Colombia, she moved to the United States in pursuit of a life where she could express herself freely and without hesitation. Her work explores personal experiences, emotions, and identity while responding to a world marked by uncertainty and ongoing challenges faced by the trans community. IG: @natasha_muriel_artist
