Interview with Richard F.Fuertes
Hello, my name is Richard F.Fuertes. Born and raised in San Narciso, Zambales Philippines. Presently living in Chesapeake Virginia USA. I love to sing, dance, paint, and play the piano. My healing with Art is to express my deepest emotions. Healing for my wounded emotions and traumatic experiences. Healing through Art. I paint what comes within: I sit down and what it comes, it comes. I dedicate my artwork to the Front-liners, LGBTQt Community, Mental Health, and People with Disabilities. My artwork is my voice to stop the stigma, bullying, racial discrimination, racism, and Asian Hate.
Richard, your work addresses issues like mental health,LGBTQ rights and combating Asian hate.How do you balance the aesthetic of your Art with its advocacy goals? Could you a particular piece that has been used or has impacted these communities?
I advocate mental health, LGBTQ rights, and combating Asian Hate. I experienced stigma, bullying, racism, racial discrimination, and Asian hate. I am having a mental health condition, being gay and experiencing Asian hate being Asian. Through my emotions and expressing them through creating beautiful Art, it is my healing art where I pour out my deepest feelings. Healing with my wounded emotions, where I create beautiful art pieces. One of my pieces is the The Lady in Tears, a mixed media made of laces painted with acrylic and pastel on canvas. The lady is in tears. She is mentally, sexually, physically, emotionally abused. She is in pain. The lace veil symbolizes secrecy and sacredness. The other piece is the Mother and Daughter, a mixed media of thread painted with acrylic on canvas. The beautiful art piece I donated to Madam Michelle Peterson the mother of Sarah Peterson, The Sarah Mitchell Peterson Foundation in Norfolk, Virginia USA.
The mission is to save lives by providing depression prevention programs and resources throughout Hampton Roads, Southern Virginia, and beyond. Sarah Peterson, a Maury High School student lost her battle with depression in January 2014. Her mother, Mitchell Peterson, founded this foundation. My Mother and Daughter art piece is a perfect piece showing love of a mother to her daughter. The Art piece was displayed in their living room. The Weeping Front-liner a mixed media made of thread painted with acrylic on canvas. I donated to Dr. Lorna Breen Heroes Foundation my artwork symbolized the weeping front-liner the physically, emotionally, mentally, exhausted bodies of all the medical front-liners. Dr. Lorna Breen suffered mental health and committed suicide in 2020, while taking a break with family in Charlottesville, Virginia USA during the coronavirus pandemic. She worked at New York -Presbyterian Hospital as Emergency room director. My Art piece was at there family house in Charlottesville, Virginia.
My artwork is my voice to stop the stigma, bullying, racism, racial discrimination, and Asian hate.
In what ways do you Filipino heritage and experience as Naturalized American influence your artistic expression? Are there specific cultural elements or personal experiences that you consistently draw upon?
I was born and raised in San Narciso, Zambales Philippines- the love of family, respect for elderly people, and being a hard- working Fil-Am Citizen. I create my artwork with my passion. I took care of my 92- year-old dad with dementia. My dad is my inspiration for creating beautiful healing Art pieces.
You’ve described your art as therapy to emotional trauma and heartbreak. How does the process of creating Art contribute to healing for you and potentially your audience?
My mom passed away on April 5, 1986. She suffered a heart attack and aneurysm. I was only seventeen years old that time. Due to my mom passing away, I suffered severe depression. However I continued my Bachelor in Science in Nursing studies at De Los Santos College of Nursing in Quezon City Manila Philippines. Two months before graduation. I quit due to my severe depression. I was hospitalized and sought professional help and counseling. Then I returned home to my hometown San Narciso, Zambales Philippines. Began creating art work as my art therapy for my wounded emotions, traumatic experience, heartbreak relationships, and my grieving process. In 1991, I held my first Art Exhibit, God’s Gift” finger painting at the San Narciso Municipal Building. That started my art career in healing with Art. My artwork is where I express my deepest emotions and create beautiful artwork.
Your work utilizes acrylic and oil pastel. These media help you convey the complex themes of stigma and acceptance.
Acrylic and oil pastel are my favorite medium for incorporating into my artwork. Acrylic easily dries quickly, and oil pastel have an excellent effect on the background of acrylic. I can convey the complex theme of stigma and acceptance through acrylic and oil pastels, and I can easily express myself and my deepest emotions through my healing artwork pieces.
How have children and adults responded differently to your work? Are there memorable interactions that have affirmed or expanded the role of your Art in advocacy?
I did an art class, Self - expression Healing with Art, at Chesapeake Central Library in Chesapeake Virginia USA on December 10, 2023, and May 5, 2024. The Chesapeake Library presented them. Life journey Norfolk Virginia I conduct art therapy class. On August 1, 2023 I did healing with Art paint and breath “ Night Out” at Broadlwan Park presented by the CRHA Chesapeake Redevelopment Housing Authority.
On October 20, 2025 I did healing art class at Greenbrier Library Chesapeake Virginia USA presented by the Chesapeake Library.
Adults and children are signed up for my art classes, and they positively impact themselves personally when they express their deepest emotions through art. Which help them cope with their emotional issues. Through healing Art classes, they help themselves to stop the stigma of mental health and lead to self-acceptance to heal through Art.
How did your identity as an artist evolve from when you first began to now? Are there pivotal moments that significantly influence your artistic direction on Focus.
My identity as an artist makes a significant impact in my life right now, Where my artwork is my voice to stop the stigma, bullying, racism, racial discrimination, and Asian hate. Which is happening in our society in a very timely manner. Mental health and through art, there is healing Art has a therapeutic effect, and heals wounded emotions. As an artist who does healing with Art, my personal experience can contribute to the community’s advocacy of Mental Health through healing through Art.
What are some of the biggest challenges you face when starting a new piece, especially when it deals with deeply personal or socially significant themes? How do you overcome these challenges?
One of the biggest challenges I face when starting a new piece is dealing with a deeply acceptance in my art piece without touching the egos and feelings that will lead them not to understand my message in my artwork. I start by praying to God give me wisdom, strength, and courage to give my hands and mind to create. That is what I do to overcome challenges.
How has your involvement with healthcare professionals and educational institutions shaped the reception and reach of your artwork? What role do these collaborations play in achieving your advocacy goals?
As a senior year in Bachelor of Science in Nursing in the Philippines, my nursing background helps me with my self-care and getting involved in educational health institutions to take seminars and other health education classes. I am a senior year with my Bachelor of Science in Psychology concentration in Clinical and Counseling at Regent University Virginia Beach Virginia USA. Hoping , praying and Lord willing to graduate on May 10, 2025. My educational background will be my tools and my voice for my advocacy goals, which are to learn more about mental health and to share with others the importance of mental health in our well- being.
Are there new themes or techniques you are eager to explore in your upcoming projects? How do you see your Art evolving in the next few years, especially in the current social climate?
My theme for my coming exhibit in 2025 at Chesapeake Central Library in Chesapeake Virginia USA will be Lines. I will incorporate threads, rice grains, painted with acrylic, and oil pastel canvas- a mixed- media piece. I am so started to start. In 2026, my theme will be Abstract, using the same mixed-media piece. I will see my Art evolve as I continue to create, and people will love to see and appreciate it. I will continue making my healing with Art.
What do you hope your legacy as an artist will be? How do you wish your Art to be remembered and what impact do you expect it to continue to have on communities and conversations around mental health, LGBTQ rights and racial equality?
My hope for my legacy as an artist is to continue do my healing art as long as I have life. I want to share my passion and love for creating my healing with Art with a Heart . I wish to be remembered that Richard F.Fuertes once created healing with Art with God’s given talents and gift. My artwork is my voice to stop the stigma bullying on mental health and also to stop racism, racial discrimination, and Asian hate. With my gifted talents and gifts that God have entrusted me. To God be all the glory!! God bless us all.
