Paola Quiñonez Rees’ body of work mainly consists of clay portraits, each one sculpted and painted by hand. Her works explore how the self responds to our modern, globalized society, incorporating symbolism from social media, pop culture, and the general zeitgeist. Questioning her relationship with culture, the artist reflects on how her own memories and narratives have contributed to the formation of her ever-shifting identity. Masks play an important role in her work, symbolizing protection within a sometimes-hostile system. Through her artistic practice, she deconstructs her acquired behaviors, dismantling the influence of her superego.