Meet Ana Mendoza

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ana Mendoza and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ana, why did you pursue a creative career?
After sitting with this question and considering all the ways I could possibly answer it, the simplest and truest response is that it makes me feel. My decision to pursue a creative career did not come from an extraordinary ability to create art, which I do not claim to possess, but rather from a deep need to understand and be understood.

Prior to focusing on arts education, I worked in an inclusion classroom where the students I spent each day with experienced the world in vastly different ways. At times, verbal communication was not preferred, so it became my responsibility to learn the many ways communication could exist. Sometimes it was through drawing, other times through imaginative play, but communication was never unattainable.

The ability to communicate, whether visual, playful, or verbal is essential to our humanity. Pursuing a creative career allowed me to use my own preferred form of communication to bring awareness to the importance of connection through arts education.

In this way, I feel helpful, I feel useful, and I truly believe my efforts have had, and will continue to have, a positive impact.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Was it easy to get here? Absolutely not, but it was definitely an adventure.

My upbringing echoes that of many others. English is technically my second language, while Spanish is my first, and learning English became a means of survival for my family and a way to assimilate into this society. Growing up between languages and cultures shaped the way I viewed communication, history, and connection. I had always loved history, but to me, the arts visually expressed the dynamics of different eras. I saw them as a portal, a way to experience the past and better understand the human experience. That perspective ultimately became the foundation of my career in arts education and community engagement.

Cultural norms and financial struggles initially pushed me toward business, but I quickly realized it was not my path. I remember thinking, “If I must have a job for the rest of my life, I better be happy doing it.” That realization led me to understand that art and art education were what truly lit the path forward for me.

Once I transferred to San Diego State University to pursue my Art History degree, I made significant sacrifices to invest in my future. I liquidated my CALPERS retirement savings, gave up my apartment, and moved into a broken-down 1983 RV in my parents’ backyard. At the time, it felt like the only way I could fully commit to my education and future goals. With the help of scholarship support, I focused entirely on completing my degree.

Like many journeys, however, things did not unfold exactly as planned. The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted many of the networking opportunities and professional connections I had hoped to build. Yet during that period of uncertainty, I also witnessed how deeply people turned to the arts for comfort, healing, reflection, and connection. More than ever, I realized that art was not a luxury, but a vital tool for bringing communities together.

I was fortunate enough to grow professionally at the Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego, where I served as Education Assistant, Coordinator, and eventually Education Manager. In those roles, I helped expand arts education throughout San Diego County and had the privilege of entering classrooms filled with eager students ready to create, express themselves, and be heard. In February 2023, I was honored with the VAPA Foundation Spotlight Award for my role in expanding arts education across the region.

Above all else, I am most proud of my role in organizing the Los Angeles Fire Relief Donation Drive in January 2025. As the fires raged across LA County, I, like many others, felt powerless, constantly checking my feed in hopes of seeing some sign of relief. But as the days went on, the damage only worsened.

With my voice cracking, I spoke up during a team meeting about a half-baked idea for a donation drive. Community does not stop at the county line, and I knew I could not be the only person who wanted to help. Without knowing whether we would be successful, the team and I quickly put information together for the community.
In just two days, we mobilized over 300 volunteers, welcomed 1,537 cars dropping off donations, and filled four 24-foot U-Haul trucks with supplies that were delivered to community distribution centers serving the citizens of LA County.

As a current resident of Naval Station Guantanamo Bay, my focus now lies in using the arts as an educational tool to engage the community through collaborative health-focused art projects with NMRTC staff, while also acting as a liaison between San Diego arts-based nonprofits and Morale, Welfare and Recreation programs to facilitate virtual workshops.

Throughout my journey, I’ve learned that sometimes the most meaningful things happen when you simply decide to step up, even when you do not have all the answers. Whether through arts education, community projects, or crisis response, my goal has always been to bring people together and create spaces where they feel connected, supported, and heard. I want the world to know that art is not separate from community; it is one of the ways we process, heal, communicate, and remind each other that we are not alone.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Great question!

San Diego is best experienced slowly, through its neighborhoods, small businesses, hidden gems, and the people that give the city its character.

Monday – I’d start the week with a sunrise hike up Cowles Mountain before the marine layer burns off. There’s something magical about standing above the clouds while the city slowly wakes up below you. Afterward, we’d grab the best cup of coffee at family-owned Ethiopian café Kaffa Coffee on El Cajon Blvd., then meander through local shops before grabbing lunch at The Pot Pie Co.

Tuesday – We’d grab breakfast at The Mission before heading to Free Tuesday at Balboa Park. I love how the park makes art, culture, and history feel accessible to everyone. From there, we’d stop at Caffè Bassam for coffee and pastries before ending the night with dinner at Wolf in the Woods in Mission Hills.

Wednesday – The morning would be spent in La Jolla visiting the sea lions before heading over to University of California San Diego for a guided tour of Fallen Star by Do Ho Suh. It’s one of those installations that makes you feel slightly disoriented in the best way possible. Afterward, we’d head to Liberty Public Market to pick up a couple of yummy things for lunch and have a makeshift picnic at Sunset Cliffs Natural Park while watching the waves crash below.

Thursday – I’d make sure they experienced the artwork, rooftop gallery, and rare books section at the San Diego Central Library (with the two-hour validated parking, of course), before heading to Barrio Logan for lunch at Xicanitas. We’d order quesa-birrias, mulitas, fish tacos, and, of course, a Mexican Coke. After lunch, we’d walk through Chicano Park, one of the most culturally important spaces in San Diego, taking in the murals, music, and energy that make the neighborhood so important.

Friday – Friday would be all about balance. We’d start slow with café de olla iced coffee and a concha from De Corazon Coffee Bar and enjoy it at the beach before switching gears in the afternoon at Realm of the 52 Remedies. We’d end the night with dinner at Steamy Piggy and dessert at SomiSomi.

Saturday – We’d make it in time for the Hillcrest Farmers Market and spend the morning trying artisan treats and drinks from local vendors. From there, we’d bike around Lake Murray before having a late lunch/early dinner at Flavors of East Africa.

Sunday – Lastly, we’d wake up early and get our steps in exploring the Spring Valley Swap Meet, where we’d sample all kinds of delicious food, buy fresh produce, and maybe even dance a little before heading home to relax. To me, that’s the perfect way to end the week: surrounded by community, music, good food, and people simply enjoying life together.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Absolutely!

First and foremost, I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to Alessandra Moctezuma, Larry Baza, Tom Noel, and Claudia Cano for encouraging me to continue pushing forward.

It was because of Alessandra that I first became aware that a career in the arts and museums was actually possible for me. Through her leadership of the Museum Studies Program at San Diego Mesa College, students are connected with internship opportunities throughout San Diego’s arts and culture community.

My first introduction to hands-on gallery education came through my 2015 summer internship with Tom Noel and Larry Baza during the Noel/Baza Fine Art Gallery pop-up at the San Diego History Center. Tom and Larry spoke honestly about both the rewards and challenges of arts advocacy and cultural work, but they always made sure I understood that there is room at the table for everyone, even if sometimes you have to pull up your own chair.

The uncertainty surrounding employment after graduation was only intensified by the realities of COVID. At a time when I knew I was capable and eager to contribute; all I needed was an opportunity. Claudia Cano gave me that starting point at the Institute of Contemporary Art San Diego, and for that I will always be grateful.

Instagram: https://anams.doza

Other: Connect with me – anamendoza88@gmail.com

Image Credits
Laura Rodriguez Meraz

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