Molly Mendoza
Portland, Oregon, United States
This flag depicts a variety of shapes coming together to form two faces intersecting. These faces intersecting show that we all have things in common, similar to a Venn diagram, but we also hold true to our unique identities and experiences. There is beauty in our complexity as well as in our unison as one people.
Interview with Molly
Postfossil: Hello! What is your name and where are you from?
Hey, my name is Molly Mendoza and I am originally from Chicago, Illinois, USA. I now work and
live in Portland, Oregon, USA.
Postfossil: How do you work?
I am an illustrator and I work with a combination of traditional and digital media. All of my illustrations are drawn using sumi ink which I then scan into the computer. From there manipulate those drawings using Photoshop. I also work with gouache and crayon.
Postfossil: What inspires you?
I am inspired by the people around me and the relationships that I have developed over the years. I love to tell stories and the interactions that I have with others helps fuel those narratives. I also am inspired by comics especially fantasy and sci-fi.
Postfossil: What are you up to right now?
Right now I am working on a really big story! This is the longest comic that I have ever tackled and I am having a ton of fun working on it.
Postfossil: How did you start the design process of the flag?
I started by researching flags and their graphic sensibilities. I wanted to try and create a visual language that felt streamlined and bold but still held true to my chaotic and rhythmic style.
Postfossil: What do you want to express with your design of the flag?
I wanted to express a sense of unity among many different parts. Here in the US people are being oppressed and discriminated against because of the color of their skin, their gender, sexuality, class, etc. This has always been ingrained in the American system and over the past few years been amplified to a point where even those who were ignorant to these oppressive systems are becoming more aware of their privilege. Tensions feel high and we have been looking for spaces of safety and that safety quite frequently can be found in our own communities. When we are together we can find refuge, comfort and a sense of place. Through intersectionality amongst one another that community grows into a powerful voice. I hope that one day that voice can take down the systems of oppression in America and bring justice to those who have been wronged for so long.
Postfossil: What is your wish for the future of the planet?
I wish everyone had the same human rights, the things they need to survive - comfortably too!, to not have to pay an arm and a leg for healthcare, distribute the wealth, take care of our planet, and to remove systems of intolerance and oppression.
