Lorena Monagas

My name is Lorena Monagas, and I live for stories.

Storytelling has been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I learned to draw at an early age, following in my grandfather’s footsteps, while my grandmother—an educator—filled our home with songs, stories, and lessons drawn from history and lived experience. Together, my maternal grandparents used creativity as a way to teach, passing down knowledge through narrative, music, and imagination.

I also grew up surrounded by makers. My grandmother and my mother were seamstresses, and I spent countless hours watching them sketch garments, select fabrics, and patiently transform ideas into beautifully crafted realities. Their process taught me the value of care, precision, and the quiet magic of bringing something intangible into the world.

Another strong influence came from my grandmother’s sister, who wrote poems and songs that became part of our family’s oral tradition. We sang and recited her work at gatherings, reinforcing the idea that stories are meant to be shared, lived, and passed on.

Rooted in this lineage of artists, educators, and craftspeople, I found myself drawn naturally to storytelling in many forms. This path led me to become an actor, illustrator, and writer. I work at the intersection of these disciplines, fusing performance, image, and text to build immersive worlds and layered characters. Whether on the page, on the stage, or through illustration, my work is driven by curiosity, imagination, and a deep respect for the stories that shape who we are.