My art is a way to remind myself and my community that we deserve to take up space and be proud of who we are.
Hola! I'm Hanncel Sanchez, the founder, artist, and creative director of Hanncel Studio, an online art platform dedicated to uplifting immigrant voices through culturally inspired art, storytelling, and advocacy.
As a Venezuelan immigrant growing up in the U.S., I wasn’t always proud of my roots—especially as a teenager. The discrimination I faced because of my accent, my skin color, and simply being different made me want to shrink myself. For a long time, I felt like I had to blend in. But over time, I realized that our culture, our stories, and our resilience aren’t something to hide—they’re something to celebrate.
My art is a way to remind myself and my community that we deserve to take up space and be proud of who we are. For too long, immigrant stories have been pushed to the margins. My art is about reclaiming space and honoring the beauty, strength, and presence of our communities.
Hanncel Studio is more than just an art shop—it’s an online art platform rooted in storytelling, advocacy, and representation. Every piece I create—whether it’s a print, sticker, tote, or affirmation card—is made with intention. My artwork looks absolutely beautiful on a wall and it affirms identities, sparks meaningful conversations, amplifies women’s voices, and brings joy to people who finally see themselves reflected in it.
Before launching Hanncel Studio full-time, I founded and served as the Executive Director of an amazing nonprofit in Spokane, WA, MiA - Mujeres in Action (miaspokane.org), to support and advocate for Latine survivors of domestic violence and/or sexual assault in a culturally responsive way. After serving for 6 years, I stepped down in 2024 as the ED. The much needed break from the stress of running a nonprofit enabled my creativity to just bloom. This is what moved me to dive deeper into my work and give myself a chance to dream big as an artist. So here we are.
I hope my art gets to inspire and empower you to feel proud of who you are and to advocate for those who have been pushed to the margins.
Un abrazo,
Hanncel
