I am a transborder Chicana artist based in the Tijuana San Diego borderlands. I hold a BA in Ethnic Studies from the University of California, San Diego, and my work navigates the intersections of art and social justice. I am an actress, filmmaker, educator, and arts administrator working with community groups and arts organizations locally and throughout California.

My recent projects include a role in the west coast premier of the play Azul by C. Quintana (2021, Diversionary Theatre) a play which explored themes of home, identity and belonging. I am the co-lead for the 2019 installation, TRANSCENDING PERCEPTION, created in collaboration with local artists and up for view at NTC Liberty Station. The content for the piece was generated  through a series of participatory workshops one of which consisted of a political cartoon gallery walk showcasing American caricatures of immigrants in newspaper clippings, segregation law, and US executive orders. Ultimately, these images served as an analytical departure point to reflect on the role of representation in shaping popular imagination and the inclusion or exclusion of BIPOC communities within the United States both past and present.

Currently, I am working to complete my feature documentary film Mujer Mariposa:Voices of Womxn on the Periphery in collaboration with cinematographer and editor Magdalena Ramirez. The film’s narrative unfolds through the storylines of three women of color navigating the complexities and contradictions of growing up first generation in the context of the United States. Mujer Mariposa positions the unseen labor of migrant and refugee mothers as an act of resistance. The film is dedicated to our mothers and grandmothers, in honor of their many legacies of sacrifice, brilliance, and tenacity.

In addition to my artistic work, I am an educator working within the Juvenile Court and Community School system, and I am also the current Director of Education with California Lawyers for the Arts.

Follow our film (IG) @mujermariposadoc
Follow Me on (IG) @chicanapunch
Website: Dianacervera.com
Photo credit: Beto Soto