April Werle shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi April, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
For artists, I don’t believe anything is ever truly “outside of work”—everything comes with you into the studio. Lately, I’ve been obsessing over horror and dark fantasy. It’s always been my favorite genre of books and films, but recently I’ve gone even deeper, watching everything by Robert Eggers and reading books like Tender is the Flesh by Agustina Bazterrica and The Bad Ones by Melissa Albert.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am a painter exploring racial identity through dark fantasy and horror, which explains my obsession with horror books and films. Race is a social construct—intangible and existing only in our minds. In my work, I transform this concept into ghostly silhouettes and shadow puppet deities that haunt my hand-characters. As mixed-race myself, I am fascinated by mirrors and how my racial reflection is shifted and shaped by the biases of others.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My relationship with my younger sister is very important to me, especially when it comes to having someone to lean on while struggling with self-perception and racial identity. No one understands my experience quite like she does, since we share the same parents and childhood. Although we look very similar, our skin tones differ and we’re often seen as leaning in different ethnic directions. Still, there’s no one I’ve been able to turn to quite like her when it comes to my struggles with what I see in the mirror.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
It has taken me years of learning—about my ethnic history, critical race theory, and the difference between cultural identity and racial identity—to feel confident in who I am. I wish I had understood earlier that those two concepts are distinct. I also wish I had known more of the vocabulary of critical race theory at a younger age. Words are powerful, and being able to name an experience gives a person the power of autonomy and choice, rather than being overwhelmed trying to defend an unnamed experience. If I could, I would give my younger self the words that gave me context for my lived experiences, so I wouldn’t have had to wait until my mid-twenties to feel more sure of myself.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
At the core of my practice, I am constantly grappling with the choices of those who came before me—my parents, aunts and uncles, and grandparents. I am deeply interested in understanding the historical context of my mother’s migration, my parents’ arranged marriage, and my own identity as nationally American and ethnically mixed Filipino. My whole life, I have recognized that my mother’s migration was a tremendous sacrifice, and I continually ask myself how I can live in a way that honors that sacrifice. My paintings serve as breadcrumbs on this path of self-understanding and of being in service to family and community, telling stories in the most Filipino way—full of dark superstition and magical belief.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I care so deeply for the community I grew up in—amazing Filipino immigrants who built lives in rural, predominantly white Montana, raised families, and worked tirelessly to support our families both here and abroad. Many were women raising mixed-race children while juggling multiple jobs. I want to honor our families by sharing stories of our experiences—of diligently practicing and teaching our culture despite navigating complex racial dynamics.
I hope that someday when all is said and done, that I helped carve space for Filipino Montanans to feel like we belong and that our contributions are recognized and valued.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.aprilwerle.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/aprilwerle
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