Seeking the Creative: Jacqueline Cunha, Visual Artist

Move Like The Sway of Her Branches. CREDIT: Jacqueline Cunha

How would you describe your art in three words?

Vibrant, Energetic, Experimental.

Jacqueline Cunha, The Hottest Part of the Flame — The Hottest Part of the Flame. CREDIT: Jacqueline Cunha

Jacqueline Cunha, otherwise known by her internet persona as Cyberspace Girlfriend, is a 20-year-old visual artist from Scranton, Pennsylvania. As a current student at Marywood University, she studies illustration and graphic design. Art became meaningful to her at a very young age, “even helping her teachers with arts and crafts projects” at age 5! Her transition into her craft today comes from a wide variety of interests ranging from fashion and makeup to painting and design. She enhances her skills daily in every way possible by “illustrating, doing graphic looks, reconstructing t-shirts, and painting on every surface”. Rather than defining herself with one medium, she plans to dive into the interests that motivate her to be an artist.

Jacqueline’s art comes from a “burning, passionate drive that influences her to pursue this lifestyle despite any doubt that arises”. She firmly believes that this passion and drive can take her anywhere and bring her happiness. With this passion, Jacqueline sees that art and activism go hand-in-hand. She holds that art can “push societal limits of expression” without the judgment of social constraints and that art is essential to our journey of mending humanity’s relationship with Mother Nature. She acknowledges that “visual language has the power to eliminate misunderstandings” that hinder the relationship between humanity and the environment.

Right now, she is receiving her makeup certificate while being a full-time university student and artist. More of Jacqueline Cunha’s work and artistry can be found on her social media accounts. Her personalized account is @CyberSpaceGF, along with two other accounts: @CyberSpaceArtist and @BeyondTheZap. The former highlights Jacqueline’s refined works deriving from school or personal projects, while the latter curates fashion and culture with her stylistic vision of futurism as a cultural zeitgeist.

Where/how do you gather inspiration?

I get inspiration from everything I see around me! My favorite influences are nature, culture, spirituality, and fashion. Anything can get me started. A random scene I witness on the street, a particularly well-lit corner of a room or even a crack in the sidewalk can launch my creativity. I love getting inspiration from nature as I find it to be a guiding force in the way I create and connect with my piece. It centers me and allows me to be almost meditative when I work. A lot of my art is done intuitively and based on the act of feeling, so I let my creativity and energy flow into my lines and colors and trust that they will visually translate the message I am trying to convey.

What do you hope audiences retain from your work?

I hope my work speaks to them and tugs at their soul, drawing out who they are, even for a fleeting moment. I want audiences to see themselves in my art, reflect on it and feel the joy of colorful expression, so that they may cultivate it for themselves. If my art can move someone to create and bring them closer to being their truest selves, then that is all I could ever ask for. If someone looks inward to themselves or has an emotional charge that furthers them in their journey, whatever that might be, then my art is meaningful. Like positivity, I believe beauty is also “contagious.” I want my art to be a means of passing it on, to make the world a vibrant place, filled with wonderfully unique people, fulfilling their passions, and looking at gorgeous art while they’re at it!