Aja Reyes paints persistence one layer at a time

By Ron Rocky Coloma

Before she answered a single question, Aja Reyes muted her phone, closed her curtains and settled into her chair at home. On the other side of a Zoom call, she smiled and said, “You have my full attention.” It was a small moment, but it reflected everything about her approach — focused, thoughtful and deliberate.

That sense of deliberate presence shaped "Delving into Persistence," Reyes’ second solo exhibit held at the Guam Museum Cafe Gallery. Supported by The Guam Museum Foundation and Flametree Freedom Center, the exhibit features 27 pieces that speak to resilience, vulnerability, and the everyday act of pressing forward despite uncertainty.

"The title came after the work," Reyes said. "It came from asking myself, how do I persist? How do I keep going when everything feels like it's falling apart?"

Following her 2022 solo debut, Reyes faced a familiar pressure. Not just to create, but to prove to herself that the first success had not been a fluke. She described it as a "sophomore album" moment — would she survive the transition from hobbyist to serious artist?

Instead of chasing a grand concept, Reyes built the exhibit piece by piece, each shaped by its own questions and conflicts. Some works were created specifically for the show. Others evolved organically over time.

"There's no single inspiration," Reyes said. "Every piece came out of a different place, a different moment."

Logistics played an important role too. Reyes measured linear wall space, calculated how many pieces would be needed and managed deadlines with a precision that hints at her scientific background. Knowing the framework allowed her to relax into the creative process.

Among the exhibit's highlights is a series of portraits of women, a project that Reyes is particularly proud of. She recalled her early struggles with portraiture, a decade-long journey from clumsy beginnings to confident renderings.

"I love them," Reyes said. "Not just because of how they look, but because of how far I've come."

Throughout "Delving into Persistence," a tension exists between personal introspection and broader reflection on life on Guam. Reyes noted the undercurrents of uncertainty that many island residents live with — economic strain, military buildup, environmental changes — and how those themes weave quietly into her work.

Yet she emphasized that the exhibit is not about despair. It is about survival.

"I liked the idea that persistence could apply to anything," she said. "Personal struggles, community struggles, everyday life."

Reyes hopes viewers will feel comfortable in the space, whether they spend five minutes or an hour with her work.

"I want people to feel like they belong there," she said. "Like it's OK to linger, to explore."

Some visitors breeze through quickly. Others stay, moving slowly from piece to piece, sometimes returning a second or third time. Reyes said she values both responses.

"If someone hates the work, or loves it enough to be inspired, that's enough," she said. "It moved them."

Her scientific training influences her process. Reyes approaches art the way she would approach an experiment — with curiosity, discipline and acceptance of failure as part of growth.

"You practice," she said. "You get better not by accident, but by intention."

Looking ahead, Reyes is less concerned with grand artistic statements than she is with building consistency and resilience. She also hopes to make her future work more environmentally conscious, considering the island’s reliance on imported goods and the broader impact of artistic materials.

"Where does my paint come from? Who makes my brushes?" she said. "Those are questions I need to ask."

As for her place in Guam’s art scene, Reyes remains grounded. She is proud to contribute to the island's creative landscape, but she resists any temptation to mold herself to outside expectations.

"I am CHamoru, born and raised here," she said. "Guam is my center of gravity."

Above all, she wants to be the kind of artist who welcomes others in — not one who intimidates newcomers or sets impossible standards.

"Everybody’s effort counts," Reyes said. "I never want to scare anyone away from trying."

Back on Zoom, as Reyes shifted slightly in her chair, the glow of determination in her voice remained steady. Through her new exhibit, she offers the same quiet promise she made at the beginning: "You have my full attention."

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