COVL Through the Lens of D’ana Nuñez
Her solo show Homesick explores how her childhood trauma has led to her triumph today.
Homesick, photographed by Vincent Picone
Homesick is D’ana Nuñez’s mental journey personified on vibrant mixed-media canvases. Nuñez, who calls her enriched art world COVL, delves into the shadows of her childhood trauma weaved into the triumph of present-day healing. Every striking color dance on each artwork embodies her vulnerability and resilience.
As Nuñez was venturing into her art career, she also worked in fashion. While working at an agency, she met artist, fashion designer, and musician KidSuper and didn’t hesitate to reach out to him after he posted about his gallery space. “He basically said, ‘If I fuck with your work, you can showcase here,’” says Nuñez. “I remember talking to Ashley (my manager) about doing a venue tour, hoping he’d be interested. He personally took us around the building, showed us everything, and it was very inspiring.”
And just like that, Homesick became KidSuper Gallery’s first solo show in Brooklyn. The gallery opened on Nov. 2 and closed on Nov. 5. While it was only on display for four days, Nuñez says it was one of the most eye-opening experiences she’s had as an artist. She also earned a spot at Miami Art Basel’s Ampersand Studios this December and Mexico City in 2024. As a Puerto Rican artist, she worked to make a name for herself from the ground up. She lives deeply in her mind, so being able to externalize such personal experiences and allowing viewers to perceive her art alone is a journey.
“I was recently diagnosed with bipolar,” she says. “Since I can remember, I’ve been someone who lives in her head and has experienced manic episodes. I always wondered, what is wrong with me? Having an epiphany this year, I wanted to celebrate that. Mental health conversations have such a taboo and stigma surrounding it. As an artist, I’ve been honest about who I am and what I’ve gone through. COVL represents that, and the show itself is a premise that really reflects a juxtaposition between my childhood trauma and having the opportunity to rewrite that in a more kid-like, vibrant way.”
Viewers may not assume that each piece is tied to a dark memory. She brings these different mental health conversations to the forefront by manipulating art mediums most children use to create something. Homesick sparked discussions throughout the gallery. When her work spoke to viewers, they spoke back.
“It really assured me because after this Brooklyn show, I had really honest conversations with people,” says Nuñez. “We spent a week talking with different people, expressing their creative journeys, mental health journeys, and their relationships with their parents. Every conversation that I was able to have was authentic, genuine, and very extensive — and that was the goal for me — to prompt that kind of conversation among people. People can expect childlike energy, honesty, and merging two worlds that feel dark but look really beautiful.”
This year, Nuñez began therapy. Since then, she has not experienced any creative hindrance or fear of being vulnerable in her art. Her creation process is approached smoother than ever before. The self-taught artist allows herself to get personal by deconstructing her experiences, the processes, and the outcomes. Her non-conventional style stems from her Puerto Rican roots, growing up in Miami and living in Puerto Rico for a few years with her aunt.
“It (my art) doesn’t make sense,” she says. “It’s loud. I use a lot of undertones and very warm tones. I love poppy oranges, reds, and pinks. I feel like those kinds of colors really encompass the vibrancy and warmth that Puerto Ricans provide, and we show pride in that. A lot of my work is pride. It’s vibrant, it’s loud, it’s not of this world, and I feel like those little things really represent my heritage and culture.”
In addition to her work, Nuñez produces artwork for major companies. She’s collaborated with Netflix for art direction in the series Never Have I Ever, SZA’s “Good Days” Fall 2021 tour poster, a five-piece capsule collection with Billionaires Girls Club titled These Dreams, and much more. She incorporates personal aspects into the collaborative workspace similar to her basketball court creations at Orchard Beach in New York and Southside Park in Miami in partnership with Crown Royal.
From now on, Nuñez is done putting her trauma on a canvas. Instead, she will continue to heal through therapy, help open doors for the next generation of artists, and implement new skills. She says she continuously wants to evolve, mature, and make COVL a household name.
“I want to continue writing my legacy,” Nuñez says. “I want to rewrite my family’s history. I want to give hope to the children who grew up like me. It’s going to be a long game, but this is the purpose that I was set to do on Earth.”
