Jessica Echevarria’s artwork, with bright colors and blurred lines, is rife with human emotion.

“I generally draw inspiration from facial expressions, body language and social interaction,” Echevarria said.

On Saturday, her paintings, drawings and prints went on display at Connexions Gallery in Easton. The display, called “Jessica Echevarria: Sooner or Later,” runs through Mar. 19.

“Showing my work at Connexions has been a goal of mine for a while,” Echevarria said. “I’ve known the owners, Alice Kwiatkowski and Anthony Marraccini, for years now, and have always loved how they run their space.”

Connexions Gallery typically is a space for local and regional artists to showcase their work.

Echevarria’s work, which was compared to that of artists like Jean Dubuffet and Jean-Michel Basquiat in The Morning Call, consists of both urban street art and fine art.

The faces in her paintings often have “random” strokes, circles and drawn lines over them to help portray her messages.

Echevarria is a self-taught artist whose career began in 2009. When asked if she has a favorite piece of her own, she described her work as more of a learning process.

“I would honestly say that my favorites change as I get better and better,” Echevarria said. “I am self-taught so every new discovery or technique that I acquire along the way allows my favorites to change often.”

Echevarria is originally from Staten Island, N.Y. but moved to the Lehigh Valley area around the age of 11, according The Morning Call. In 2012, she co-founded the Allentown Alternative Gallery and is currently at an artist co-op called the Cigar Factory in Allentown. 

“I’ll never get tired of the hustle of doing exhibits…There is a great connection of love and admiration among the visual artists here,” Echevarria said. “The Lehigh Valley is home to some of the best artists (both visual artists as well as musicians) that I know of.”

For striving Lafayette student artists, Echevarria offers advice.

“When your friends are out at a party, stay home and create,” Echevarria said. “When you really want a new tattoo or clothes, spend your money on more supplies. Don’t waste your time being fixated with trivial things that in the end, will get you nowhere.”

Connexions Gallery is located at 213 Northampton St. and is open Monday and Thursday through Saturday for visitors.