Jo Archuleta (b. Taos, New Mexico 2000) is an artist living and working in Kansas City, MO. Her work explores the complexity of identity and mythology of womanhood found within leisure, desire, pleasure and the specificity as a state of being. By acknowledging rules within the landscape of femininity, gender roles and their societal expectations. Archuleta has found that there are multiple approaches to transgressive and transformative definitions of these identities. Her specific approach to this critique has been to use humor, jokes and satire. The small crusty dog is used as an objectifying self identifying symbol, and a parallel to the sometimes awkward and uncomfortable experiences within girlhood. Archuleta is interested in exploring how the figure is perceived and how she sees herself, a constant battle between self awareness and self sabotage.

Tension within the color palette and subject matter is materially driven, using texture as a tool for attraction. The figures seduce and confront complexities within the vapidness of beauty, vanity, and ego while also using self-consciousness as repulsion. The women in her work wear masks, perform softness, weakness, shallowness, and confidence; all while cowering within their own insecurities within themselves.