Mind of Matter Print

Desert Rose 421 is her alias name and just like the stone she feels her art provides thought provoking mental clarity. Shondra La’toya Raquel is pretty much known as a jack of all trades. Outside of her professional life, working in the Finance and Accounting field, being a mommy and wife; she runs her own business; MomQu’s Royal Essentials LLC that provides nourishments for the mind, body, and spirit. Her creative nature began when she was 8, perfecting her craft in doing hair, designing clothes, and building homes out of crates for her barbies, to writing poetry. She has always had a fascination with turning what others would consider trash or junk into art and innovation. Her mother always stated she has a Bohemian nature, very unconventional style. As a hobby and a personal enjoyment, she has mentored under privileged youth and creates anywhere from acrylic paintings, mixed media, sculptures to graffiti and dancing. Desert Rose has no formal training in art but has participated in programs such as Chicago’s on Maggie Daley’s Art 37 and Gallery 37 in her adolescent years. She creates pieces based off intuition and supplies that she sees life and inspiration in. She has always loved touching different textures and creating life from things that would normally be overlooked. Desert Rose holds a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a Master’s in Business Administration. She always loved art and has a huge appreciation for a wide range of Artist techniques. She is an outdoor and adventurous enthusiast, a foodie, blogger, and podcaster of “Memoirs of a Mother Queen, Uncensored!” She is also a published author in 2 collaboration books entitled She is THE ISH, and This Is My Superpower, and Dreamsteere Academe’ from Dreamers to Visionaries. Lastly, she is the 2018 State and National title holder as Mrs. Grand Canyon Plus America 2018 and would have been the 2020 National All World Beauties, Ms. Illinois Plus if we did not have the 2020 pandemic.