Born in Mexico and now based in Texas, Arely Morales explores issues related to identity, humanity, and the vulnerability of the Latinx immigrant community in the United States. Through her large-scale portraits, Morales reveals the emotional complexity and psychological depth of the struggles and experiences that often go unseen. Morales explains, " I seek to show their strength, elevate and dignify their presence."
Morales received her BFA from Stephen F. Austin State University in Texas in 2015 and her MFA in painting and drawing from the University of Washington in 2017, where she was awarded the De Cillia Graduating with Excellence Award for her research. She is a 2019 recipient of an Elizabeth Greenshields Foundation Grant. Her work has been featured in numerous group and solo exhibitions at institutions such as Art League Houston, TX; The Masur Museum, LA; The University of Texas at Arlington, TX; The National Museum of Mexican Art, Chicago, IL; and The U.S. Embassy, Mexico City, MX. Morales' work is held in public collections such as the Dallas Museum of Art, Dallas, TX; and The University of Washington, Seattle, WA.