KC gallery owner who found her voice in her art, makes space for others to speak out

Editor's Note: This interview is part of an ongoing Star series highlighting Kansas Citians from historically under-represented communities and their impact on our region. The series builds on The Star's efforts to improve coverage of local communities. Do you know someone we should interview? Share ideas with our reporter J.M. Banks.

Born in Juarez, Mexico, Vania Soto moved to the United States with family when she was in elementary school to start a new life.

Art became a major part of that new life. It would become her way of communicating complex thoughts that her words could not express.

Messages of love, pain, struggle and hope are woven in to the artist’s works. Last year Soto opened Monarca Art Space in Kansas City as a way for her to help other artists find their voices. Recently, J.M. Banks, culture and identity reporter for The Star, stopped by the first Hispanic art gallery in Kansas City to talk with Soto about culture, creation and the struggle to create platforms for Hispanic art.

Banks: Can you tell me about your early life and upbringing?

Soto: I was born in Juarez, Mexico and have been in Kansas City for about 13 years. I grew up in East Tennessee when I was still in elementary school, I am going to say 9 or 10. The culture shock was huge coming from a border town like Juarez, I am a border baby, then moving to a small rural town.

How long have you been an artist?

I have been an artist my entire life but I have been a full-time selling artist for about 10 years now. I was always a creative kid, especially coming into the United States and not knowing the language. Creativity and art has always been my language and saved me with the communication barrier.

How did you make your way to KC?

My godfather lives here and I have family here. I came for more opportunities in the city. I was 20 and the first place he took me when I got here was the Nelson. That was the second real gallery I had been in. I decided then that is what I wanted to do. I told him that one day I was going to exhibit at the Nelson and it happened.

How do you describe your art?

I would describe it as more realistic with a pop of surrealism. I focus on a lot of portrait art work and call it surrealistic because I use a lot of neon colors and bright colors that has to do with my culture and that is what causes the surreal look. I have never done anything different. All of my work has been very culturally oriented.

What made you want to open this gallery?

I was looking for an art studio space for myself and there was just nothing out there. They were either warehouses that were way too big or studio spaces that were way too expensive. So when I found this space I thought we could use it to create new spaces for artists who are also looking for studios that are not super expensive or don’t want to commit to an entire year.

What has been the most difficult part of running the gallery?

I think it is getting the word out that has been the most difficult. Being a first-time owner you are faced with spending money on marketing or on the location so when people do come in it does feel like an art space. That has been the tough part.

What is the most fulfilling aspect of your work?

When people come in to see it and feel welcomed. This is a cool space. It’s not stuffy. It’s a very nontraditional space. I feel like that’s what I really like about the West Bottoms. Being in this environment, I feel like you can make it your own, versus a traditional retail space that is a bit more white walls, plain, with less character. That wouldn’t fit into the cultural aspects of my business.

How do you infuse those cultural elements into your work and gallery?

Well, because I am a female Mexican artist, I know a lot of the Hispanic artists and artists of color just because of the places I would get invited to exhibit. Being able to connect with other artists and create this list of contacts means that I get to give them the opportunity to exhibit.

What has your first year open been like?

The number one thing has been establishing myself as a real gallery and number two would be getting new people to come. I always say that the saying, “if you build it, they will come,” isn’t true. You have to spend the time and money to get people in and you can’t expect to just open your door and get people in.

How are you bringing in new people to the gallery?

This year I am partnering up with organizations like the Guadalupe Center for collaboration projects to take the gallery outside of these walls. Giving (Hispanic artists) us the opportunity to exhibit at their location so that we get eyes on us from the community and get to invite them here. We are like a mobile gallery.

What is the art market like for Hispanic artists in the city?

Lately I have been seeing a lot more focus on murals rather than art hanging on the walls that you can purchase. That has kind of been this nuance and Kansas City is starting to get this reputation as a mural city. There is a marketability for these murals now and people are making names for themselves.

Do you have a personal achievement or milestone that stands out to you?

I have exhibited at the Nelson as part of a group in the Layered Presence group with 22 Hispanic artists. (A Layered Presence / Una presencia estratificada, is an exhibit addressing personal and national identities along with socio-political issues and more. The exhibition, which is free to the public, runs through Sept. 8, 2024.)

How do you think your art and gallery impact the community?

I think I am very impactful by having a business plan that has an audience that hasn’t been targeted by the art community. People of color and different people overall have a lack of representation in the art world.

What are some changes you would like to see in the KC art world?

I don’t want to be the only Hispanic gallery. I hope other artists explore entrepreneurship and opening their own thing. It doesn’t have to be like mine, but wouldn’t it be cool if we had more Latina gallery owners in the city? I think that would be awesome. We are all making it up as we go. I encourage people if they have a dream to just do it.

What are your plans for the future?

My goal is to own my own building with three floors, with a boutique style space for local vendors, a gallery space, and a floor dedicated to art studios. So, the same concept as now but bigger. This is the prototype right now.

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow in your footsteps?

I would suggest going to different galleries and seeing how they did it. Do the work and find out who you want to be and figure out how to get there. You have to find people to learn from and hear what worked and what didn’t. That is how I put this together.